Latest Updates

Funding will support workforce development initiatives in McKinley County
Gallup, NM – GGEDC Executive Director Patty Lundstrom announced BNSF Railway Foundation is awarding a $10,000 grant to Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation (GGEDC) to support local workforce development efforts in McKinley County.
“The opportunity to provide residents with the skillsets that employers demand is one that we sought out, and with the BNSF Railway Foundation, our organization can now deliver a wonderful contribution to our community,” said Executive Director Patty Lundstrom. “There are employers right now in the local logistics sector that have a need for qualified employees, and with this funding...

Standard Solar Inc., a nationwide solar energy development and financing company, put in a ton of work in all phases of development to complete a 9.8-MW solar project for the City of Gallup, N.M.
“We’re excited that our unique ability to finance this project played a role in bringing it to its completion,” says Scott Wiater, president and CEO of Standard Solar. “City officials at all levels were committed to making this project a success, and it was an honor for us to be involved.”
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WINDOW ROCK — President Russell Begaye signed a services contract between the Office of the President and Vice President and Big Navajo Energy Nov. 28 to bring solar power units to Navajo families.
“This money is to provide electricity to families that need it, especially in places where it’s really expensive to run electric lines to homes,” Begaye said. “Because if a person lives up to seven miles off the grid, that could easily be up to $200,000 to provide electricity to that home. With solar energy, we could provide cheap energy. We’re excited for the families receiving this.”
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Patrick Mason, treasurer of the Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation’s board of directors, presented the GGEDC 2018 Annual Report at the Nov. 13 Gallup City Council regular meeting.
The GGEDC is a nonprofit organization that aims to drive economic growth by building on local assets and strategic partnering to attract and recruit business and industrial employers that provide economic base jobs in the Gallup-McKinley County area.
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The McKinley County Board of Commissioners discussed and approved the issuance and sale of industrial revenue bonds for the benefit of Rhino Health, LLC at the Nov. 20 regular meeting.
Rhino Health, LLC is a South Korea-based supply company that applied to the county to utilize the shuttered glove factory near Church Rock to produce nitrile gloves of various sizes. The plant was used to manufacture latex gloves before being closed in the early 2000s.
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New Mexico’s economy is red hot!
According to a recent report by Bloomberg, New Mexico’s economy leads other states in job and wage gains since January 2017, according to analyses by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. Nevada, Arizona, California and Georgia rounded out the top five.
According to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which the Federal Reserve Bank uses to conduct these analyses, New Mexico saw the greatest decline in the unemployment rate for any state. This decline beats every other state in the nation by a large margin. Forbes (Oct. 4) indicates that, “This will come as...

Snowfall at New Mexico ski resorts has already outpaced last year, making industry leaders optimistic as resorts begin to open for the 2018-2019 season.
Last year was a punishing one for New Mexico ski resorts. A drier than average snow season left many resorts with far lower visits, and therefore revenue, for the season.
Ski Santa Fe has already received 85 percent of its 2017 season snowfall total. The resort opened on Thanksgiving Day as planned this season. Last year, the opening was pushed to mid-December because of lack of snow.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — New Mexico continues its ascent out of the economic doldrums, with job numbers in October showing the biggest percentage gain in a dozen years.
The state’s employment rate registered 2.8 percent in October compared to the year before, according to the state Department of Workforce Solutions. The last time the state has seen any kind of growth over 2.6 percent was in September 2006, when the increase measured 2.9 percent, the agency said.
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New Mexico also recently was named one of the best states for women entrepreneurs
In the past 20 years, the United States has seen a 114 percent increase in women-owned businesses. And yet, despite the push towards gender equality in the workplace, the nation still has a long way to go.
Next year is sure to be another big one for women, so the data analytics team at Frontier Business decided to take a look at the most progressive states for women in business. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the team ranked every state according to the percentage of businesses...

Six Local Companies Receive SBIR Matching Grants
Santa Fe, N.M. – Governor Susana Martinez announced that six New Mexico companies will receive New Mexico Small Business Innovation Research (NMSBIR) Matching Grants to help their businesses grow. The NMSBIR program, launched by Governor Martinez, is designed to support science and technology companies by assisting businesses in achieving development and commercialization goals.
“We’ve worked hard to create new tools to help our local startups thrive and now more homegrown companies are using our powerful job creation tools to grow here in New Mexico,” said Governor Martinez. “Tools like these help our local companies get...

The Escalante Generating Station is an asset to the greater Gallup area and all rural New Mexico. This coal-fired power station provides power for the majority of rural New Mexico, powering up to 225,000 homes, businesses and ranches each year. Their highly-skilled employees ensure that the plant runs continuously and provides a steady flow of electricity. The skilled labor found in the Gallup region, combined with their aggressive internal training program, has made it possible for the Escalante Generating Station to remain strong, in spite of economic and political shifts.
Award-Winning Power Station
The generating station’s culture is one of employee and environmental...

Rhino Health Will Create Up To 350 New Jobs in Church Rock; Invest more than $49 million
Church Rock, N.M. – Today, Governor Susana Martinez announced that the Korean nitrile glove manufacturing company, Rhino Health, will expand to Church Rock on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation and create up to 350 new jobs. Rhino Health LLC is a US-based company with a global management team from a leading Korean rubber conglomerate, Jungwoo Rubber & Plastic. The company also plans to invest more than $49 million in their new 124,000 square foot manufacturing facility and warehouse. This international recruitment is supported by...

On October 29th & 30th, the EAIC hosted its Annual Meeting & Conference 2018 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with more than 70 attendees, including EAIC Community and Corporate Members, Advisory Council Experts, European automotive suppliers and distinguished outside guests. Monday, October 29th, saw the EAIC Annual Meeting - our exclusive member-only event to discuss the strategic orientation of the organization.

The United States is dotted with cities that share a long history with railroads. In fact, many of them came into existence as part of the westward expansion led by BNSF predecessor lines like Northern Pacific, Great Northern, Frisco and Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe. Many of these communities continue to embrace their past, present and future ties to freight rail. To honor these communities, BNSF created a special Heritage Community Award.
"There are a number of communities that really have stood out through the course of our railroad's history. We've grown together, worked cooperatively, and really had each other's back," said...

Gallup Pipeline and Compliance Services, LLC (GPCS) is a thriving Gallup company, serving the oil and gas industry in New Mexico, Arizona, and West Texas. Since launching the company, owner Roger Montano has continued to expand, something that has been made possible by the dedication and skill of his team. “Without our ‘family’ of employees none of this would be possible,” said Roger. His ultimate goal is to help stimulate economic growth in Gallup and the surrounding communities through the expansion of GPCS and the continued hiring of local talent. With local and regional infrastructure needing to be improved, there...

Bernard Baah-Kumi, a doctoral student at New Mexico State University and intern at the Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation, is seeking to understand how economic development activities can reduce childhood poverty. His objective is to find out the structural factors militating against child poverty and recommend policies for dealing with these structural factors.
Childhood poverty is a critical issue locally, nationally, and globally.
Addressing this pressing issue is critical for the health and wellbeing of children today, and for the future of the economy. Children who grow up in poverty are at an increased risk for dropping out of school, delinquency, drug...

Standard Solar recently celebrated the completion of a 9.8-MW solar project for City of Gallup, New Mexico. Standard Solar provided financing for the 28,896 panel single-axis tracker array. The solar farm is expected to generate more than 20 million kWh of power annually, saving the city approximately $785,000 and providing nearly 10% of the city’s energy use.
The solar farm, constructed on approximately 31 acres of city-owned land south of Interstate Highway 40, will generate enough electricity to power 2,500 homes and offset production of 3,500,000 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.
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GALLUP, N.M. – A western New Mexico city surrounded by Navajo culture and Native arts and crafts is experiencing a tourism boom not seen since the 1970s.
Officials in Gallup, New Mexico, say the city has seen an increase of about 7 to 10 percent in visitors thanks to foreign tourists, The Gallup Independent reports .
Helping drive the interest in Native culture and crafts is a favorable exchange rate that makes it economical for foreign tourists to visit in the summer, according to tourism officials in the city.
Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce director Bill Lee says the area is seeing visitors...

Members of the McKinley County Smart Growth Commission were at the regular McKinley County Board of Commissioners meeting July 24 to recommend that the county approve a $30 million industrial revenue bond as an economic development incentive to Rhino’s Health LLC, a supply company based out of South Korea.
The plan laid out by Sharlene Begay-Platero, an industrial specialist with the Navajo Nation, involves utilizing the empty factory to the east of Fire Rock Casino, 309 E. Highway 66, as a manufacturer of nitrile gloves, which will bring in an anticipated number of 300 to 400 employees. The plant was used...

Advanced Impact Environmental has been awarded up to $20,000 in technical assistance from the NMSBA Program at Sandia National Labs
Gallup, NM – The UNM-Gallup Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation (GGEDC) today announced that Sandia National Laboratories has awarded up to $20,000 in technical assistance to Advanced Impact Environmental, a Gallup, NM-based business, under the New Mexico Small Business Assistance Program to advance their work in UXO – unexploded ordnance.
“Advanced Impact CEO Craig Morris and his partner Amanda Gomez have been marketing their environmental remediation company with local, state, tribal and federal governments especially in...

In the last seven years, we’ve made huge strides in creating a healthier economy and a better business climate, which has allowed us to help private sector businesses create new jobs in New Mexico. This commitment to economic development has grown and diversified New Mexico’s economy, and the numbers bear that out.
Under the leadership of Gov. Susana Martinez, we have prioritized and strengthened JTIP and LEDA – two crucial economic development tools, and we’ve launched new ones like the Catalyst Fund, to grow New Mexico companies. These tools strengthen our workforce and build the business infrastructure. They expand New Mexico’s...

When one examines the growth of economies in cities, states or small nations, it is apparent that those with the highest rates of job creation and salary growth owe this growth to entrepreneurs who are using high-tech to start new companies with high-growth potential.
The dominant religions in an area, through impact on local culture, seem to be very important to an economy. This impact can be either positive or negative. For example, two of the fastest growing high-tech economies, Israel (Jewish) and Northern Utah (Mormon) are particularly successful at producing entrepreneurs. Conversely, New Mexico (Catholic and Protestant), despite a high...

Since the financial meltdown of 2008, bankers have endeavored to serve the borrowing needs of their entrepreneurial customers. But laws such as Dodd-Frank — meant to regulate large banks and curb excessive risk-taking — put an overall squeeze on access to capital, especially for those with business startup dreams and little credit history.
Banks now have money to lend, but many entrepreneurs don’t fit a typical bank’s customer profile. Startups often lack a track record of business success and the collateral necessary to secure a traditional bank loan. But savvy community bankers don’t turn away business customers whose borrowing needs can’t...

Santa Fe, N.M. - Economic Development Secretary Matt Geisel, announced $156,850 in Local Economic Assistance & Development Support Program (LEADS) grants to 16 communities across the state as well as $66,500 in Solo Worker grants to 3 communities. The grants will fund a variety of economic development projects throughout New Mexico and support the continued growth of our state and local economy.
"These community development grants will further our work to grow and diversify New Mexico’s economy," said Economic Development Secretary Matt Geisel. "These LEADS and Solo Worker grants will promote job creation, corporate recruitment and business development. With the awarded funds,...

Members of the McKinley County Smart Growth Commission were at the regular McKinley County Board of Commissioners meeting July 24 to recommend that the county approve a $30 million industrial revenue bond as an economic development incentive to Rhino’s Health LLC, a supply company based out of South Korea.
The plan laid out by Sharlene Begay-Platero, an industrial specialist with the Navajo Nation, involves utilizing the empty factory to the east of Fire Rock Casino, 309 E. Highway 66, as a manufacturer of nitrile gloves, which will bring in an anticipated number of 300 to 400 employees. The plant was used...

Roughly 15 miles outside of Gallup on tribal land, a dilapidated mobile home sits in a scrubby lot.
By the looks of it, children must live here, too, as there are tricycles and toys scattered in the dirt. Several small dogs are tethered outside and whine and wag their tails at the construction crew.
Just feet from the mobile home, the family’s brand new house is being finished, with several Air National Guard members inside laying flooring and hooking up the plumbing and electricity.
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The City of Gallup will be celebrating its 9.8 megawatt solar park with a ribbon cutting ceremony on site at 10:00 a.m. on July 17, 2018.
Gallup Mayor Jackie McKinney and the City Council approved a 25 year power purchase agreement December 13, 2016 to get the project started. The single-axis tracker array includes 28,896, 340 watt photovoltaic solar modules. Allison Rd Solar Park is located on approximately 35 acres of City-owned property located south of I-40, between Allison Road and Munoz Overpass (Hwy NM-602). The City will save roughly $20,000 the first year of operation over power purchased from our...

Building and donating homes to Native American veterans is what the South Carolina Air National Guard, U.S. Navy and Southwest Indian Foundation are all about this summer.
The 169th Civil Engineer Squadron are working with SWIF and the U.S. Navy’s Mobile Construction Battalion 22 for two weeks to help get conventionally framed homes built for the Native American veterans in the surrounding area. The unit has been in town since July 8 and will be here until July 21.
There are about 40 airmen deployed working on what they call their Innovative Readiness Training. They will be doing all phases of the...

Business recruitment is a common, traditional approach used to spur economic growth. Cities will often offer companies tax breaks and other financial incentives to attract them to an area.
While it’s true that the right company can bring in hundreds of jobs and have a dramatic impact on a region, in our global economy this process of courting companies has become more competitive than ever. In more recent years, economic development leaders have been using a wider array of tactics to encourage growth. Business recruitment is still an objective. But it’s not the only one.
Homegrown businesses are creating jobs
Did you know...

Gallup, NM – Michael Sage, Deputy Director for Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation (GGEDC), based in Gallup, New Mexico earned the designation of Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), a national recognition that denotes a mastery of skills in economic development, professional attainment and a commitment to personal and professional growth.
The CEcD exam was administered by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) on June 23-24, 2018 in Buffalo, New York at Buffalo Marriott HarborCenter. Michael Sage was the only applicant from New Mexico to pass the exam. Michael Sage joins GGEDC Executive Director Patty Lundstrom, who secured certification in 2016, as Certified...

Gallup, NM – Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation (GGEDC) announced it has been selected for a $15,000 grant from the NM Economic Development Department and its LEADS grant program to fund business recruitment and attraction efforts for Gallup-McKinley County. GGEDC is one of only six applicant organizations to receive full funding.
“This marks the third consecutive year in which GGEDC will receive full funding,” said Executive Director Patty Lundstrom. “Considering the highly competitive application process, we are appreciative of the support but more importantly, the recognition of the economic opportunities which exists for Gallup-McKinley County”.
Grant funds will allow GGEDC to participate...

Santa Fe, N.M. - Today, Economic Development Secretary Matt Geisel, announced $156,850 in Local Economic Assistance & Development Support Program (LEADS) grants to 16 communities across the state as well as $66,500 in Solo Worker grants to 3 communities. The grants will fund a variety of economic development projects throughout New Mexico and support the continued growth of our state and local economy.
"These community development grants will further our work to grow and diversify New Mexico's economy," said Economic Development Secretary Matt Geisel. "These LEADS and Solo Worker grants will promote job creation, corporate recruitment and business development. With the...

Gallup, NM - On Monday, Governor Susana Martinez announced that New Mexico had been officially added to the list of states with Qualified Opportunity Zones. McKinley County received three Opportunity Zone designations. The program was created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and is designed to spur investment in economically distressed census tracts with tax incentives for investors.
Census tracts within McKinley County receiving Opportunity Zone designations were: (1) 9452, which primarily includes all of Gallup west of US Hwy 491 / 602 and includes the Gallup Municipal Airport, proposed Allison Interchange, and the Rico Property - a...

Santa Fe, N.M. - Today, Governor Martinez announced sixty-three Opportunity Zone designations in New Mexico. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act created Opportunity Zones to spur investment in distressed communities throughout the country. New investments in Opportunity Zones can receive preferential tax treatment. New Mexico's Opportunity Zones are located in rural, tribal and urban communities in 22 counties.
"I'm excited about the opportunities for investment and economic growth in New Mexico's Opportunity Zones," said Governor Susana Martinez. "In combination with our robust economic development tools and business-friendly reforms, Opportunity Zones can boost economic growth and job creation in New Mexico."
"We're thrilled...

City of Gallup joins cities nationwide to increase awareness of jobs and career development programs that enhance local economic impact
Gallup, NM – City of Gallup and McKinley County celebrates National Economic Development Week from May 7-12. National Economic Development Week was created and is coordinated by The International Economic Development Council, the largest professional membership organization for economic developers. It is being held during the week of the organization’s 92nd anniversary as the largest professional membership organization for economic developers.
Typically, economic development can be described in terms of objectives. These most commonly include the creation of jobs and wealth, and...

Recognizing 2018 as the 92d anniversary of the International Economic Development Council
and
WHEREAS, the International Economic Development Council is the largest professional economic development organization dedicated to serving economic developers; and
Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Mayor and City Council of the City of Gallup do hereby recognize May 7 -12, 2018 as 'National Economic Development Week'.
Click here to view the complete release.

Results from a survey released this week showed that Ithaca landed among top destinations for family road trips in the U.S., highlighting restaurants, state parks and other scenery among the area's main attractions.
The survey, organized by CarRentals.com, questioned 1,000 U.S. citizens about their favorite destinations to hit while planning a road trip. Results showed that nearly 70 percent of people surveyed preferred to travel with family members.
Based on results from the survey, the travel company compiled a list of the most common travel destinations people chose to take with their families. Ithaca was listed among places such as Cambria, CA, Gallup, NM, Dillon,...

Hiroshi Miyamura wanted to join the U.S. military but was rejected because of his Japanese ancestry.
"During World War II, we were banned following Pearl Harbor," Miyamura told a crowd of about 120 students in the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
"That changed my life," he said. "I grew up in Gallup, N.M., a town that was full of immigrants, and we all considered ourselves American. We had to prove ourselves when the war broke out, but I was turned down. I was told I was an enemy alien. I could not volunteer or be drafted."
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The real estate search tool on the Greater Gallup EDC website is critically important for showing site selectors and business owners the available properties in our area, but the value extends far beyond that. Using the GIS Planning tools, interested parties can access the information they need to make informed decisions regarding where they want to locate and if a particular property would meet their search criteria. We encourage all local property owners, developers, and real estate agents to send GGEDC updates regarding available properties so that they can be added to the database. “Promoting community assets, like available real...

The city’s new solar power project is in the final phases of testing, and is slated to go live in the next several weeks. Once operational, the site will generate roughly 10 percent of Gallup’s power. The solar farm will be located on city-owned property south of Interstate 40, between the pending Allison Road interchange and Muñoz exit.
The project, two years in the making, began from a city request for proposals in 2015. The firm selected for the job was and is Standard Solar Inc. The company also owns and operates the endless rows of solar panels that now obscure...

When it comes to a homegrown base of film crew technicians, sound stages, a variety of locations, good weather, and proximity to Los Angeles, you just can’t beat New Mexico. The training and facilities are here, and the people who work in the industry are committed to seeing it succeed. And it seems to have done just that, despite continuing blowback in the state legislature from Republicans.
Back in March 2011, in her first year in office, Gov. Susana Martinez panicked the film industry when the state imposed a $50 million cap on the 25 percent refundable tax credit for movies made in New Mexico. A...

Recommendations Target Workforce Development in the Construction, Logistics, and Manufacturing Sectors
Gallup, NM – Today, the planning committee for the Economic Roundtable on Workforce Development in the Construction, Logistics, and Manufacturing Sectors, formed by Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation (GGEDC) and the Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments (NWNMCOG), released the final report outlining recommendations to strengthen workforce development efforts in the construction, logistics and manufacturing sectors of McKinley County. The final report expands on the economic roundtable held in January 2018, where 56 public and private sector leaders from Gallup and McKinley County, as well as from state, tribal, academic...

Should your new or expanded facility be rail-served? Whether you ship consumer goods or industrial commodities, immediate access to the resources of a Class I Railroad can provide significant benefits. Class I Railroads — freight railroads with operating revenues of $433.2 million or more — have the scale and expertise to bring real development and supply chain advantages to companies looking to expand or open new distribution centers, warehouses, or other facilities.
These Class I Railroads are BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation, Canadian Northern Railway, Canadian Pacific, Kansas City Southern Railway, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific Railroad. Chances are, at least one...

Independent creators who posted their music, videos, art, crafts and other works online added nearly $37 million to New Mexico’s economy in 2016, a new study found.
The report released by the Re:Create Coalition found that a booming online creative economy helped 14.8 million Americans earn about $5.9 billion in income on nine major internet creative platforms alone.
New Mexico is home to 105,423 of those creators, part of the state’s $5.6 billion arts industry. The Land of Enchantment didn't place in the top or bottom five states for earnings from the online creative economy.
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FBI Director Christopher Wray met with tribal officials of the largest Indian reservation in the U.S. this week, becoming the first head of the federal law enforcement agency to visit the Navajo Nation.
His visit to the Navajo Nation was the first by a director and was intended to allow Wray to introduce himself to tribal leaders during a visit to FBI field offices, FBI spokesman Frank Fisher said.
Wray visited the tribal capital in Window Rock, Arizona, on Friday and spoke with Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye and other tribal and federal law enforcement officials, including FBI agents stationed in New Mexico, the...

BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) today announced that its 2018 capital expenditure program in New Mexico will be approximately $80 million. Roughly half of this year’s plan in New Mexico is focused on maintenance projects to ensure BNSF continues to operate a safe and reliable rail network and includes replacing and upgrading the main components for the tracks on which BNSF trains operate including rail, rail ties and ballast. The remainder of the plan in New Mexico will go toward track expansion projects, including one on the Gallup Subdivision.
Between Belen and Dalies, BNSF will begin a two-year project to construct 10...

GGEDC held an Economic Roundtable on January 26, 2018 at the Historic La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The focus of the roundtable discussion was workforce development for the construction, logistics and manufacturing sectors.
Several overarching goals helped to shape the Roundtable conversation, including:
Improve the quality and skills of the workforce
Help businesses meet their human resource demands
Provide channels for businesses and workers to connect
There was a fantastic turnout, with 56 people attending to represent the interests of the public and private sectors, non-profit agencies, local tribes, and academia.
Why We Focused on Workforce Development for the Construction, Logistics and Manufacturing...

Today, the Economic Development Department announced that the National Main Street Center and its partners have accredited local New Mexico MainStreet programs in recognition of their exemplary commitment to historic preservation and community revitalization through the Main Street Four-Point Approach®. This accreditation will allow them to continue their work in revitalizing downtown economies.
The following New Mexico programs have been designated as Main Street America 2018 Accredited programs for meeting the commercial district revitalization performance standards set by the National Main Street Center: Alamogordo MainStreet, DowntownABQ MainStreet, Artesia MainStreet, Barelas MainStreet, Belen MainStreet, Carlsbad MainStreet, Clovis MainStreet, Corrales MainStreet, Deming MainStreet,...

Rachel Rodriguez doesn’t remember not wanting to be a teacher. And it has never occurred to her to leave her beloved hometown—Gallup, N.M., a small city in the heart of American Indian country.
She started her career as an elementary teacher at the same school she attended as a child, with a sense of community and belonging that has rooted her throughout her 22 years working in the Gallup-McKinley County district, where she is now a director of instruction.
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Santa Fe, N.M. - Today, the Economic Development Department announced that New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) has been reaccredited and licensed through the National Main Street Center, Inc. for 2018. This accreditation allows New Mexico MainStreet to continue helping local communities grow their downtown economies.
"Congratulations to New Mexico MainStreet for being reaccredited in 2018," said Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Matt Geisel. "MainStreet is making a difference in communities throughout the state and their local programs are key to creating the right economic conditions downtown that positively impact job creation."
New Mexico MainStreet works with local communities to build capacity, support local projects and...

A plan to boost spending on roads and provide pay raises to top New Mexico elected officials, state workers and teachers is headed to the state House of Representatives for a vote.
A plan to boost spending on roads and provide pay raises to top New Mexico elected officials, state workers and teachers is headed to the state House of Representatives for a vote.
A House budget writing committee endorsed the $6.3 billion general fund spending plan. Amendments can be made as the bill moves toward House and Senate votes. Republican Gov. Susana Martinez can veto provisions line-by-line.
A boom in local oil production and...

While much of the U.S. economy is on the rebound, New Mexico remains in the dumps since the recession hit a decade ago. Part of the problem may be a statewide brain drain: educated young people taking their careers -- and expertise -- elsewhere. Economics correspondent Paul Solman reports on New Mexico’s mission to bring back its young, energetic entrepreneurs.
Judy Woodruff:
The stock market is up, unemployment is down, and much of the U.S. economy is on the rebound, but not for the state of New Mexico.
It’s a place that’s still down in the dumps a decade after the recession began....

Standard Solar, a solar energy company specializing in the development and financing of solar electric systems nationwide, announced it will finance a 9.8-MW solar project to provide power to the city of Gallup, New Mexico. The single-axis tracker array is expected to generate more than 20 million kilowatt-hours of power annually providing nearly 10% of the city’s energy use.
Mangan Renewables, which provides renewable energy solutions for customers nationwide developed the project in partnership with Wiser Capital and their proprietary underwriting platform. Standard Solar will own and operate the array. Construction is in progress and is expected to be completed and...

GGEDC receives $25,000 grant from New Mexico Gas Company Funds to support economic development initiatives in McKinley County
Gallup, NM – Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation is pleased to announce it has received a $25,000 grant from the New Mexico Gas Company. These funds will support efforts to grow the manufacturing and logistics sectors in McKinley County by obtaining a Foreign Trade Zone designation. The award is for one-year.
New Mexico Gas Company President Ryan Shell stated, “We are proud to support the Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation. In selecting the statewide recipients of contributions from the Emera fund, our objective has...

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – – On Dec. 11, the Health, Education, and Human Services Committee voted in support of Legislation No. 0475-17, which seeks approval of supplemental funding from the Unreserved, Undesignated Fund Balance in the amount of nearly $1.5 million, which would provide exclusive dormitory space for Navajo students on the University of New Mexico campus in Albuquerque.
The legislation states that $1.5 million would be allocated to the Navajo Nation Office of the President and Vice President, which would execute the contract with UNM. The Navajo student residence hall would reflect cultural and historical values of the Navajo Nation,...

Proactive economic development is central to the continued growth of the economy in McKinley County. At the GGEDC, our goal is to help stimulate economic growth and improve the quality of life for our citizens. To do so, we continue to address key aspects of our regional economy that influence that growth.
By bringing together community members and stakeholders for an annual Economic Roundtable, we are able to address key issues and identify opportunities for growth and change. This year's Economic Roundtable will focus on Workforce Development for Construction, Logistics and Manufacturing. These are potential growth sectors for the economy of...

SANTA FE ? New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced that the state is celebrating the 120th year of filming in New Mexico this month. This milestone in New Mexico film history will be commemorated at events throughout 2017-18.
"For 120 years, New Mexico has been at the heart of the film industry," Maniatis said. "We are continuing to build on that strong tradition by attracting new productions to New Mexico and creating the film industry's greatest economic impact in New Mexico history, three years in a row."
New Mexico is consistently ranked in the top five places to shoot a film...

Santa Fe, N.M. - Secretary Geisel announced that New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS), a program of the New Mexico Economic Development Department, has been awarded a $35,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to fund in-depth rural economic development services in the communities of Belen, Las Vegas, Raton and Tucumcari. The four rural municipalities are participants in the Great Blocks on MainStreet initiative.
"This type of innovative public infrastructure program directly impacts local business development in our downtown MainStreet districts and spurs further private investment, leading to revitalization of our local economies," said Economic Development Secretary Matt Geisel. "This...

Robert Hunter started two years ago as the chief executive officer for Middle College High School, a charter school in Gallup.
As a resident of the area for over two decades, he was shocked to see the demographics of the high school were not reflective of the community.
“This was a huge concern of mine,” Hunter said. “When I looked at our school, ethnically, our Native enrollment was the third largest enrollment. I thought, ‘That can’t be right. Our community doesn’t look like this.’”
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New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced today that the television series "Better Call Saul", produced by Sony Pictures Television and starring Golden Globe Nominee and SAG Nominee Bob Odenkirk ("Breaking Bad," "The Post"), will begin principal photography in Albuquerque, NM.
"We're proud to welcome this incredible production team back for a fourth season of 'Better Call Saul,'" said New Mexico Film Office Director, Nick Maniatis. "Over the last three seasons, Sony has proven to be an excellent partner with the State of New Mexico as we continue growing and diversifying our economy and we look forward to the continued...

For Immediate Release
December 8, 2017
Funds to support economic development initiatives in McKinley County
Gallup, NM – Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation is pleased to announce it has received a $25,000 grant from the New Mexico Gas Company. These funds will support efforts to grow the manufacturing and logistics sectors in McKinley County by obtaining a Foreign Trade Zone designation. The award is for one-year.
New Mexico Gas Company President Ryan Shell stated, “We are proud to support the Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation. In selecting the statewide recipients of contributions from the Emera fund, our objective has been to identify organizations that...

The ability to adopt new technologies and emulate innovation with the release of new products and services has become essential to remaining competitive, though this is not always a seamless transition for all organizations. The vision of success now mirrors companies such as Apple and Google, which are thriving in the tech capital of the U.S., the Silicon Valley, a place where young STEM graduates dream of landing their first job opportunity. But, despite Silicon Valley’s notoriety, there are many other regions in the U.S. that are well positioned to become innovation-driven economic hubs that attract top-notch talent; for example,...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 5, 2017
The New Mexico Film Office Announces "Big Kill" to Film in New Mexico
Santa Fe, N.M. - Today, New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced that the action western feature "Big Kill" produced by Big Kill, LLC and Archstone Pictures will begin principal photography mid-November through mid-December. Production will take place in Santa Fe.
"Our incredible landscapes and robust talent pool have long made New Mexico a premiere location for filming Westerns," said Film Office Director Nick Maniatis. "New Mexico's powerful film incentive and extensive film infrastructure are making our state an even better location for films...

For a few days in early October, just as the weather was beginning to gild the cottonwood leaves, 170 Chinese business professionals came to the United States with the hopes of making it big in New Mexico.
The U.S.-China Business Matchmaking Summit had all the trappings of a standard international business conference: speeches by politicians; industry-specific panels; and tours meant to acquaint participants with a city they would likely not have otherwise visited. But the focus of the Albuquerque event was partnering Chinese nationals interested in investing abroad with businesses hailing from one of the poorest states in America.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 6, 2017
Santa Fe, N.M. - Today, New Mexico State Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced the winners of the 2017 New Mexico Filmmakers Showcase which took place November 4 & 5, 2017 at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque. The following winners were announced in seven (7) categories.
Comedy Category: Georgia O'Keefe and Me - dir. Robert Belinoff, Corrales
Chaos and order compete as a married man falls for an artist ingénue. Art prevails.
Documentary Category: Una Nueva Tierra (A New Land) - dir. Jesse Fisher and Jackie Munro, Santa Fe
Una Nueva Tierra (A New Land) traces the struggles...

Northwestern New Mexico will have its own veterans cemetery by 2019 thanks to state funding and a multi-million-dollar federal grant.
Gov. Susana Martinez and other officials gathered Wednesday in Gallup to mark the dedication of what will be the second of four proposed cemeteries for veterans who live in rural areas of the state.
Click here for the complete article.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23, 2017
Gallup, New Mexico– Red Rock Security & Patrol, LLC was founded in 2013 in Gallup. The company provides armed and unarmed security services for corporate and government facilities. Beyond Gallup, Red Rock Security & Patrol has now expanded into the Albuquerque, Alamogordo, and Grants areas. The company has grown quickly from a six-person department into now employing 30 full-time and 60 part-time security professionals.
Each year, the statewide offices of the New Mexico Small Business Development Center Network along with the International Business Accelerator and the Procurement Technical Assistance Program select individual clients from their respective service...

Delbert Anderson and his jazz trio play a bebop song that moves as quickly as a Chevrolet Bel-Air cruising down nearby Route 66. Warmed up and loose, the Navajo trumpeter plays a tune appropriately titled “Opener” — the church crowd in his palm. A smattering of mostly older Caucasian listeners sit politely in the pews, tuned to the three-piece ensemble.
If you stand outside the Church of the Holy Spirit where Anderson plays today, or anywhere in Gallup, New Mexico for that matter, you catch the din of train traffic — more of a roar the closer you get to Route...

September 27, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Secretary Geisel Announces $2 Million Catalyst Fund Commitment to ABQid
Albuquerque, N.M. - Today, Economic Development Secretary Matt Geisel announced that ABQid will receive up to $2 million from the Catalyst Fund to invest in New Mexico startups. This commitment will leverage matching funds from ABQid, to be invested in New Mexico startups, bringing the total potential investment from this commitment through the Catalyst Fund up to $5 million.
"The Catalyst Fund leverages private investment for our homegrown startups, which helps us move our state forward as we continue to build a healthier economy," said Economic Development Secretary...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representative Ben Ray Luján announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has awarded a grant, totaling $6.69 million, to fund the construction of a veterans' cemetery in Gallup, New Mexico.
Currently, the nearest national cemetery to Gallup is located in Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe, New Mexico, approximately 199 miles away. The lawmakers said the new cemetery will provide more convenient access and service to over 19,000 veterans and their families.
"Veterans in Gallup, Navajo, Zuni and the surrounding area have waited for a long time for...

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has awarded a $62 million construction contract to build a section of pipeline for the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, according to a U.S. Department of the Interior press release.
The Interior Department announced on Sept. 15 that the contract was awarded to Oscar Renda Contracting Inc., a subsidiary of Southland Holdings in Roanoke, Texas.
Construction will include installing approximately 28 miles of 48-inch and 42-inch diameter water transmission pipeline between Naschitti to Twin Lakes as part of the San Juan Lateral, the release states.
Click here for the complete article.

Region 1 - Northwest
Cibola Communities EDC, $9,500: Marketing program targeting real estate developers and light manufacturing.
Four Corners EDC, $10,000: Marketing initiative focused on the oil & gas sector, aviation, and outdoor products manufacturing. The organization will also visit the corporate headquarters of local businesses as part of its BRE program.
Greater Gallup EDC, $12,500: Marketing initiative focusing on transportation assets, specifically Interstate 40 and the BNSF Transcon Corridor; the Gallup Energy Logistics Park; and the development of a truck super hub. GGEDC will also continue its strong BRE program.
Sandoval County, $10,000: Will expand its database identifying economic-base home businesses in the county in...

International trade and export opportunities have been a consistent bright spot in the New Mexico economy. Edward Herrera, director of the Office of International Trade at the New Mexico Economic Development Department, would agree.
The longtime trade expert hopes business owners will take advantage of the services his office offers. Finance New Mexico asked Herrera what small businesses can do to boost their bottom line through exporting.
Continue to full article.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Albuquerque’s commercial property sector may be one of the beneficiaries of the growth of the bioscience industry in New Mexico.
Richard Larson, executive vice chancellor for research at the University of New Mexico’s Health Sciences Center, on Monday outlined some of the current economic benefits realized by the state and some of the steps New Mexico is taking to further grow its bioscience sector. Larson was addressing the monthly luncheon of the New Mexico chapter of NAIOP, the trade association for commercial real state and developers.
Some 700 biotech companies of varying sizes now work in human health, agriculture...

Gallup Mayor Jackie McKinney made it official on June 30 at the general meeting for Veterans Helping Veterans by presenting the key to the now vacant Ford Canyon Senior Center to Dave Cuellar, the head of the largest and most active veterans’ group in Gallup.
“The city removed the office furniture and the dining tables and chairs,” McKinney said. “We left the pool tables, and kitchen equipment and utensils.” McKinney also mentioned that he had discussed with the Department of Veterans Services in Albuquerque the probability of installing a permanent Veterans Service Officer in this building. The permanent office will be...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A new one-stop online shop may make the complexities of launching and growing businesses a little easier for local entrepreneurs.
The New Mexico Business Portal, which the Department of Information Technology launched on June 29, offers a free, comprehensive array of educational materials and links to agencies and resources that can help entrepreneurs streamline the process of planning, starting, maintaining and growing a local company.
Information Technology spent about 18 months designing and constructing the site, which the state Legislature financed with $1.45 million in funding in 2015 and 2016, said department spokesman Wyndham Kemsley. The project grew out...

Santa Fe, N.M. - Today, New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS), a program of the New Mexico Economic Development Department, announced that more than $300,000 has been awarded to MainStreet partners to support the arts in New Mexico. The City of Albuquerque, the City of Gallup and Creative Startups partnering with Zuni Pueblo have received funding to support their work as centers of arts and innovation and build on their cultural assets to activate their downtown economies.
"This funding will support place making and arts programming in New Mexico Arts & Cultural Districts and MainStreet communities - further growing and strengthening our local...

You’re going to like living and working here. Gallup, NM is at the center of a growing energy industry. We have critical access to the resources that produce energy and the infrastructure to support delivering that power throughout the country, but that is not all that there is to Gallup.
We have beautifully developed offices and excellent logistic support for companies that want to start or grow their energy business in New Mexico. This is due, in part, to a collaboration between key partners, like the City of Gallup, the Gallup Chamber of Commerce, the Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments...

Gallup is home to established and quality healthcare facilities but we are looking to the future. Our community has goals to continue improving the quality of our facilities, to modernize the care we receive, and to expand into additional specialties.
For example, we are exploring ways to make this area of New Mexico a hub for cancer, kidney and diabetes research. We are also looking for Gallup to become a new destination for the Liver Transplant Institute. If you are an investor, doctor, developer or financier that wants to help make these goals a reality, we invite you to learn more...

Do you want to make money in the energy sector? Energy is a critical industry in New Mexico, and the Greater Gallup region is a future hotbed of energy production. With amazing, natural resources, this can be an excellent opportunity for those in, or seeking, the traditional energy markets. At the same time, the massive access to solar energy has created an entire industry, in and of itself. Wind is also growing at a rapid rate.
To ensure that the growth of these sectors, vital to the American way of life, continue, cities like Gallup, NM are working with strategic partners...

If you plan on practicing rural medicine, you should go to school at the University of New Mexico Medical School. In 2013, the university was ranked #2 in the nation by US News and World Report for best medical schools with a rural health program. Gallup, NM has a number of clinics and healthcare centers that are part of that rural program, providing healthcare to remote populations and also providing opportunity to physicians, physician’s assistants, and nurse practitioner to hone their craft.
In and around Gallup, NM patients, students, investors, and medical professionals have access to the Gallup Indian Medical Center,...

There are only four prime locations for surface coal mining in the entire San Juan Basin. Given that the coal in the San Juan Basin is considered to be some of the highest quality of coal in the world, forming or expanding a coal business into the greater Gallup, NM area is an excellent idea. When you factor in the growing access to infrastructure in the region, the energy sector is poised for phenomenal growth.
The Crevasse Canyon Formation is found in the Crownpoint Field and has the terrain and structure for optimal mining potential. The coal found in this formation...

If you have an emergency, you should be able to get help quickly. You can at the Zuni Indian Hospital, also known as the Zuni Comprehensive Health Center. This 45-bed general hospital provides a vast array of outpatient services, in addition to running a full service emergency room, a women’s health clinic, mental health services, optometry clinic, and a range of other medical services.
The facility is home to a nationally acclaimed research facility that is staffed by the University of New Mexico’s Pediatrics, Communicative Disorders, and Medicine Department. Fully equipped to treat the residents of this area, this hospital also...

The coal industry has a long and storied history in the Greater Gallup area, dating back to the 1880’s. The great news for people who support the coal and energy industry is that the coal in this area is far from mined out. There is still plenty of opportunity, which you can read about here. By locating in Gallup, NM, you can work with, sell to, and support our consistent and growing energy sector.
The coal in the area is around 4 ½ to 5 feet thick and is found in multiple areas. In addition, the coal that is found in...

Two American soldiers trudged across the war-torn Korean peninsula as winter bore down.
To keep their minds off the cold and hunger, Hiroshi “Hershey” Miyamura told his new friend, an Italian kid from Boston, about his hometown of Gallup, N.M.
Joe Annello pictured the kind of strange buttes and red-rock desert he had seen in John Wayne movies. But Miyamura told him a different story, about how Gallup had risen to defend the American ideal when so many others stood by.
Click here for the complete article.

Gallup, NM is a prime location for business to set up shop. Given the access the town provides to hubs around the country, the easy access to transportation logistics, and the City of Gallup’s commitment to attract and grow businesses, it is also an excellent time to consider this New Mexico city for your business needs. Additionally, the City of Gallup has partnered with strategic organizations like the Gallup Business Improvement District to make the downtown as business friendly as possible.
When you move or start your business in Gallup, you are working with a prestigious team of people that are...

You may as well visit a doctor in the best possible location. We have no shortage of fine hospitals and medical clinics but if you want to visit a new, state-of-the-art facility, visit the Tohatchi Health Care facility near Gallup.
The Tohatchi Health Care facility is one of the newest, and therefore state of the art, facilities operated by the Navajo Area Indian Health Service. Providing ambulatory care for approximately 8,000 residents, the facility is staffed with physicians, nurses, and support staff along with consultant staff from the nearby Gallup Indian Medical Center. The facility includes services for pediatrics, internal medicine,...

One of the key industries in the Greater Gallup area is the energy sector. It is a literally a hotbed for people who want to produce energy, using both renewable and conventional sources. Whether you are interested in starting a solar energy plant or a coal company, this is the place to do it.
When it comes to coal, McKinley County has a number of locations which are ideal for coal mining. The coal found in this sequence is roughly 5-foot-thick, and there is the promise of multiple streams in the area. The well-developed infrastructure, including the railways, gives companies all...

The New Mexico Partnership was designed to recruit businesses into New Mexico. Gallup, NM has partnered with the New Mexico Partnership in order to help business that want to open or move here. New Mexico Partnership offers businesses critically important services, like helping them with site selection, training for employees, and a plethora of resources available for both the employers and their employees.
For any business, that is thinking about moving to a place that is both on a major transportation route and offers incentives, Gallup definitely fits the bill. In coordination with an extensive network of partners, we make it...

New Mexico is a state of great diversity. A combination of breathtaking scenery, an enchanting business climate, complementary cultures, varied geography and a dedicated workforce make it an attractive location on many fronts.
Supported by three interstate highways (I-40, I-10 and I-25), 12 U.S. highways; a vast railway system operated by Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific; three ports of entry (Santa Teresa, Antelope Wells and Columbus); and one international and 60 public airports, New Mexico offers direct access to much of the United States, as well as the international borders of Canada and Mexico. It’s possible to reach Texas,...

The University of New Mexico is reaching new heights in national and international rankings for research institutions that work to commercialize new technologies.
UNM ranked 28th among 225 universities and research institutions included in the Milken Institute’s 2017 report, “Concept to Commercialization: The Best Universities for Technology Transfer,” released in May. That’s up from an original ranking of 93 in 2006, when Milken first began publishing the annual report.
UNM also jumped to 33rd this year on a list of 100 universities and research organizations worldwide that received U.S. patents in 2016. The National Academy of Inventors and the Intellectual Property Owners...

If you are a doctor, nurse or medical professional that wants to treat patients in an environment that is personal, rather than rushed, consider working at the Crownpoint Health Care Facility. Located off Highway 57, in Crownpoint, New Mexico on the western edge of the Navajo reservation, it is only a few hour’s drive away from Albuquerque and Santa Fe. The facility services the region of McKinley County and a population of roughly 20,000 Navajo Nation peoples.
On average, the staff of physicians, physician’s assistants, and nurses only see around nine patients a day, so you have the opportunity to really...

Can you imagine being able to tap into the most productive areas of coalbed methane production in the United States? That is exactly the opportunity that you have when you bring your coal and coal methane business to Gallup, NM. Since the 1980’s the coal beds of the Fruitland Coal Formation have yielded extremely high quantities of coalbed methane, which makes it one of the productive areas for coal production.
Based on their location on the Chaco slope, and the quality of coal, the coal in the Fruitland Coal Formation are perfect for the type of surface mining that is preferred...

Logistics is a key component of any business venture, no matter how large or small. One of the largest advantages Gallup, NM provides is its proximity to some of fastest growing markets and states in the country. This opens up both national and international markets to any company who wants to relocate to, or open a business center in Gallup. Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Texas, and Utah are all easily accessible.
In addition to being at a major cross road, businesses that relocate or open a business center in Gallup have access to both our municipal airport and the train lines that...

The Economic Roundtable was held at the UNM-Gallup Campus. This meeting was a follow-up on the previous Economic Roundtable - "Site Selectors Forum" held on February 10, 2017. We had Workout Sessions for attendees to express their inputs and provide action plans on improving Housing and Workforce within Gallup-McKinley County.
GGEDC will follow-up with another Economic Roundtable that will be held next year 2018. This will discuss the materials obtained from the May 19, 2017 Economic Roundtable

Healthcare is one of the most important industries Gallup, NM, as it houses some of the region’s top hospitals and medical centers. A prime example of this is the 99-bed Gallup Indian Medical Center, the top medical referral center that treats primary care and acute care patients in the Gallup service area.
The Gallup Indian Medical Center serves as the primary health care center for a population of over 200,000. In addition to admitting roughly 5,800 inpatients annually, the center treats around 250,000 outpatients each and every year. This makes it one of the largest in the Indian Health Service.
You can...

The BRE Luncheon was held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Gallup, NM.
Recently, GGEDC staff initiated the second year of business outreach. Over the course of two months, from March-April 2017, GGEDC completed a total of 10 interviews. During select interviews, GGEDC was joined by a combination of staff from the NM Economic Development Department and Cibola Communities Economic Development Foundation.

In keeping with our long history with the oil and natural gas industry, the Gallup refinery is located on 880 acres in McKinley County. The refinery produces approximately 23,000 barrels each day. This helps to make New Mexico one of the leading producers of oil and natural gas in the country. With the demand for energy growing across the country, the need for services supporting Gallup’s oil production is also increasing.
Learn more.
The Gallup refinery produces a number of products that are increasingly in high demand as American’s turn inward for their energy needs. The refinery produces gasoline, diesel, propane, butane,...

Many cash-strapped New Mexico startups may soon get a critical boost from a state-backed investment program that’s pumping an initial $4.65 million into three local venture funds.
Gov. Susana Martinez announced Tuesday that the state’s new $20 million “Catalyst Fund” is making its first three commitments to investment funds managed by New Mexico State University, and by the Albuquerque-based firms Cottonwood Technology and Tramway Venture Partners. Those organizations will, in turn, match state money dollar-for-dollar, doubling the amount of new cash to become available for local startups seeking seed and early-stage capital.
The Catalyst Fund launched last year with $10 million from...

Gallup, NM is perfectly positioned to become a major hub for any company doing business nationally. While here, you can easily access big cities on both coasts. Poised on the I-40 corridor, Gallup, NM provides businesses in the area the ability to put their goods on the highway and take it all the way to the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic Ocean in the East, or the Pacific Ocean in the West. The extensive freeway access that gives business owners the peace of mind that no matter where they are sending their goods, from Mexico to Canada, getting them...

Gallup has a long history with energy production and there is a great deal of potential in Gallup for the oil and natural gas business. We have the history to back this up. Since 1927 over 27.5 million barrels of oil, and 6.9 billion cubic feet of gas have been produced in Gallup.
Located near the San Juan basin, Gallup is already a major producer of natural gas in the United States. When looking to the future, we are keenly aware of the capacity we have for economic prosperity with oil and natural gas. Our infrastructure is designed to grow the...

Imagine getting treated, or having a loved one treated, at a top of the line cancer center close to home. Since 2007, that is something that the residents of Gallup, NM have had the opportunity to do. The New Mexico Cancer Center opened a brand new 18,000 square foot facility in Gallup and provides high-quality health care to patients throughout the area.
The Gallup New Mexico Cancer Center is a state of the art full service facility, that is staffed with both a medical oncologist and a radiation oncologist. In addition to being state of the art, the facility continues to...

Gallup, NM has a history of development linked with the energy sector. Gallup is an excellent place to create a major economic hub based on available energy, easy access to major transportation, and advanced energy credits which make it extremely viable to produce or use a variety of energy sources, including renewable energy.
In Gallup, we have always been an energy-focused community. So, while we have abundant access to wind, coal, and oil, renewable energy sources have also been expanding. Our energy sector is developing at a rapid pace, making this the perfect time to consider relocating or starting a company...

The First Annual Gallup Native Arts Market, will be held August 10-12, next to Courthouse Plaza in downtown Gallup. While other events feature Native Art, this will be the first Native-managed art market to engage high-end artists to showcase the amazing work that comes from the Gallup area.
The showcase artists will be juried into the show by a commission of established Native artists to control quality and represent the different art mediums such as jewelry, weaving, pottery, sculpting, etc.
The Commission will receive logistical support from Gallup MainStreet Arts & Cultural District and gallupARTS, to coordinate the logistics, permitting and funding...

Liz Hannum, the executive director of MainStreet, briefed the Gallup City Council on the progress of MainStreet at the March 28 city council meeting. And, Rose Eason, the executive director at GallupArts, briefed council members on the progress happening at GallupArts at the same meeting.
Neither subject called for formal council votes. They were listed on the meeting agenda as information items and were introduced via visual aids.
Hannum told council members that for the past five months there is growth at MainStreet. MainStreet, per se, is part of New Mexico’s Economic Development Department. Hannum said becoming accredited by New Mexico MainStreet...

City Councilman Allan Landavazo spoke at the RMCHCS Urgent Care Ribbon Cutting on March 31, 520 Highway 564.
Officer Manager Tamar Baloo introduced the staff and greeted the crowd during the Urgent Care grand opening.
Scott McIntyre and David Dallago did the grand honors of cutting the ribbon for the official unveiling of the Urgent Care Clinic to the public.
View photos here.

Any business needs access to easy and fast transportation, allowing employees to reach work quickly and goods or packages to be shipped out of the location quickly. Gallup, NM has a local municipal airport that provides just the kind of logistical support that any business might need. The airport itself is owned by the city, and is home to several important logistical providers including FedEx Express, Gallup Med Flight, and Budget Rent-a-car. In other words, everything needed to send packages in and out can be found here while also providing the convenience of car rental for any out of towners...

Anyone who has ever worked on developing a site or facility project knows first-hand how time intensive it can be. Establishing transportation and distribution solutions that are customized to your business isn’t always easy, and that’s why BNSF Railway looks to partner with its customers to help select the best solution that meets their needs.
“We believe in collaborating with our customers to proactively develop products that enhance and improve their supply chains,” says Colby Tanner, assistant vice president, economic development, for BNSF.
He should know. In a career that spans state economic development, location advisory and and site selection for Walmart...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2017
Gallup, NM – Adding more variety for our shoppers in the Gallup and surrounding area, Rio West Mall will add a new anchor, Hobby Lobby is projected to open in January 2018.
Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., a major Oklahoma City-based corporation began as Greco, a miniature picture frame company in 1970. When David Green moved his business from the family garage to a 300 square-foot retail space in 1972, Hobby Lobby was born. It is now the nation’s largest privately owned arts and crafts retailer. “The success of our stores in New Mexico led us to look...

The West was won because of the railroad, and Gallup, NM has worked to keep that tradition alive. With a long term partnership between the GGEDC and BNSF, the premier railroad and train provider in the United States, logistics is a whole lot simpler here in Gallup. Reliability, unsurpassed connectivity, and a convenient location in Gallup gives new and existing business that transportation edge they are looking for.
BNSF has a long history of providing logistics for businesses that need to freight their goods across the country. With unsurpassed access to even the most remote areas, the BNSF/GGEDC partnership brings this...

If you’re going to get sick, you want to be somewhere with world-class healthcare – exactly what you will find in Gallup, NM. Transportation, energy, and healthcare are the three largest industries here which means people who live here have access to the best health care, a business-friendly town, with low commute times. We are second to none in healthcare, and invite investors, healthcare professionals, researchers, and companies that are looking towards the future of healthcare to relocate here. You can read more here, http://ow.ly/h2rD309r4Td
The city of Gallup is home to a number of medical facilities, including the Gallup Indian...

Solar energy is rapidly becoming a popular choice, and if there is one thing that New Mexico has in abundance it is access to solar energy. New Mexico was ranked sixth in the nation, in 2015, in utility scale electricity generation from solar energy. Those long, beautiful sunny days not only make Gallup a great place to live, it also makes us one of towns that can be at the cutting edge of solar energy development. Intrigued? Read more here, http://ow.ly/2ZA0309r3Er
10% of all electricity produced in New Mexico is already produced by solar power. New Mexico has a plan to produce...

Infrastructure matters because good roadways mean getting to work on time while others can lead to gridlock and frustration. People who live in Gallup, NM have come to rely on its highly efficient transportation network every day. With a state of the art website,http://ow.ly/UB9i309pEY1, the residents of this area have no trouble keeping up to date on the latest transportation news, finding an alternate route to work or school, or simply planning their next vacation.
For businesses planning to relocate to the area or trying to attract new talent, the detail provided on this website gives an opportunity to share information...

Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation (GGEDC) welcomed leading national corporate site selectors and state economic development practitioners, and joined approximately 50 community leaders, elected officials, and residents of Gallup-McKinley County as well as state and federal stakeholders for an Economic Roundtable, titled “Site Selectors Forum”

The Grant County Beat | Today, Governor Susana Martinez announced that Gallup Energy Logistics Park has earned BNSF Railway's nationally recognized site certification - one of two in New Mexico and only ten nationwide. This certification shows the potential of Gallup to contribute to New Mexico's growth in commerce, trade and logistics.
"Helping New Mexico grow as a leader in commerce and trade is one of our top priorities for recruiting jobs and investment to our state," Governor Martinez said. "That's why we work so hard to invest in infrastructure and pursue bold reforms that make our state more competitive. This certification...

The New Mexico Economic Development Department (NMEDD) announced today that the New Mexico MainStreet program has been reaccredited and licensed through the National Main Street Center, Inc. for 2017.
"The New Mexico MainStreet Program has again received national recognition for its innovative and high-performance economic revitalization work," said Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Designate Matt Geisel. "The comprehensive assessment of our state program highlights the impacts of the strategic and long-term investments we are making in MainStreet Districts to promote the revitalization of downtowns, encourage reinvestment in public infrastructure, support building renovations for business expansions and new start-ups, and the creation of...

For Immediate Release
December 6, 2016
Gallup, NM – Patty Lundstrom, Executive Director for Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation (GGEDC), recently earned the designation of Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), a national recognition that denotes a mastery of principal skills in economic development, professional attainment and a commitment to personal and professional growth. The CEcD Exam was administered by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) on December 3 and 4 in Albuquerque, NM at the Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town.
“We want to congratulate Executive Director Lundstrom on achieving the CEcD designation,” said GGEDC Board of Directors President Tommy Haws. “It adds tremendously to...

Gallup Film Liaison Lisa Rodriguez updated the Gallup City Council at its Oct. 25 regular meeting on the latest happenings around greater McKinley County with respect to filmmaking. The matter was listed on the meeting agenda as an information item and not as something that required council action.
Rodriguez, city film liaison for the past 10 years, is contracted with the city at an annual fee of $11,500 to bring opportunities to Gallup. She puts on the annual Native Film Series that takes place at the El Morro Theatre. The film series is free to the public and offers films from...

A new executive director for MainStreet is onboard.
Jennifer Lazarz — theatre manager at the El Morro Theatre, interim city marketing tourism manager, and secretary of the board of directors at MainStreet — said Liz Hannum was recently hired for the job. Hannum, a Massachusetts native, begins the job Nov. 1.
“We are pleased with the hiring and look forward to introducing Liz to the community” Lazarz said. “The Gallup MainStreet is very excited for her to begin work.”
Click here for the complete article.

To the Citizens of Gallup and McKinley County:
I attended the announcement by Gallup Land Partners on Oct. 17 regarding the groundbreaking ceremony for the Gallup Energy Logistics Park. The event was hosted by Greater Gallup Economic Development Corportation. It was exciting to hear about the $4,000,000 investment to construct the rail terminal for the Park.
It is critical for the community to pursue economic development in a proactive way so that we can expand our tax base and improve the quality of life for the citizens of Gallup and McKinley County. The expansion of the tax base should help us improve...

Today, Economic Development Department Acting Secretary Barbara Brazil issued the following statement after the White House released a fact sheet touting New Mexico's continued economic growth:
"This is encouraging news and just goes to show that we must continue fighting to grow and diversify our economy," Acting Secretary Brazil said. "Because of Governor Martinez's bold reforms, wages are on the rise and poverty is declining. It's good to see this progress, and we'll continue telling the world what we already know: New Mexico is a great place to live, work, and raise a family. But we can't stop there - we...

Contact: Patricia Lundstrom
505-722-2980
patty@gallupedc.com
www.gallupedc.com
For Immediate Release
October 12, 2016
Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation and BNSF Railway will participate in this milestone construction groundbreaking
(Gallup, NM) – On October 17, 2016, Gallup Land Partners, LLC will join with the Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation along with Gallup-McKinley County officials, local and state partners, and members of the Gallup community to celebrate a groundbreaking ceremony for construction of the rail terminal for the Gallup Energy Logistics Park, LLC. The $4,000,000.00 facility, which is expected to commence operations in 2017, will provide businesses located in the 2,500-acre master planned Gallup Energy Logistics Park, LLC premier shipping...

As a central hub of healthcare for 200,000 individuals across northeastern Arizona and northwestern New Mexico, Gallup has a variety of facilities designed to meet their patients needs. One of these facilities, Gallup Indian Medical Center, has the largest staff of all Navajo Area IHS facilities.
Hosting 99-bed’s, GIMC operates as a referral center for all hospitals in the Navajo Nation, in addition to serving as a primary care service for the Native American population throughout the Gallup region. GIMC encounters around 5,800 inpatient admissions annually, with 250,00 outpatient encounters, making it one of the largest hospitals for the Indian Health...

In 2007, Gallup residents found themselves with a new, state-of-the-art, 18,000-square-foot cancer care facility. Funded by the New Mexico Cancer Center, the care facility has a medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, and is fully outfitted to support and care for cancer patients.
Today, the Gallup Cancer Center continues to support the community by displaying local art and caring for cancer patients. Between the community and the New Mexico Cancer Center, Gallup wants to do more - by providing a research center for cancer, kidney, and diabetes. But a research center needs investors and the support of local businesses. With the aid of...

With four prime locations for coal surface mining in the San Juan Basin, interested new or expanding businesses have a lot of pros and cons to weigh before choosing a location.
For example - the Crevasse Canyon Formation found in the Crownpoint field has proven to have high coal resource potential. The terrain and structure of the region allow for optimal surface mining, but there are a few drawbacks. Crownpoint field lacks rail access, and while abundant, coal seams average a thickness of about 3.6 feet. Even with the cons, Crownpoint Field could be an excellent investment for the right business.
To...

With a history of coal mining dating back to the 1880’s, the Greater Gallup area is still going strong in the energy industry. Despite over a 100 years of mining, the region still has development potential in a variety of locations, including the Crevasse Canyon Formation in the Gallup field.
While some sections of the Gallup field have been mined out, the remaining coal has some of the best quality characteristics of any coal found in the San Juan Basin. Coal rich sections generally contain multiple seams with coal quality and thickness averaging 4.5 feet.
For more details on Gallup, the Crevasse...

Based on research and resource calculations done throughout McKinley County, there are four prime locations for potential coal production; the first on that list is the Fruitland Formation in the Star Lake area.
Based on their location on the Chaco Slope, the coals in the Fruitland Formation are perfect for the desired type of surface mining preferred in McKinley County. With the coal being relatively thick and possessing a greater continuity than found in other regions, the Fruitland Formation is the best location for a new or expanding business to mine coal.
For more information on the Fruitland Formation, the Gallup region,...

Located on 880 acres in McKinley County, Western Refining’s Gallup refinery produces approximately 23,000 barrels per day. With a developed transportation network and a rich history in the energy business, New Mexico is one of the leading producers and distributors of energy in the United States.
The Gallup Refinery has a long list of functions that allow a production list including gasoline, diesel, propane, butane, and heavy fuel oils. For a full list of capabilities, or to learn how a new or expanding business might find a place in Gallup’s energy industry, follow the links provided below:
Greater Gallop EDC: http://www.gallupedc.com/gallup/key-industries/energy
Western Refining...

According to research done in 2015, New Mexico was ranked sixth in the nation in utility-scale electricity generation from solar energy. Long, clear, sunny days make Gallup a perfect location for an energy business to get into renewable energy.
Out of all the energy produced in New Mexico, 10% of that is renewable energy. With terrain nearly perfect for it, wind energy produces 8% of New Mexico’s renewable energy. With a plan for all energy producers in the state to have at least 20% of their energy produced by renewable sources by 2020, New Mexico is an excellent choice for energy...

Second only to Arizona in days of sunshine, New Mexico is in a prime location for solar based energy programs. New Mexico has been ranked in the top ten as a leading state for solar energy for over five years, and if Gallup has anything to say about it, New Mexico will continue to be in the top ten for years to come.
With wide open ranges and clear skies, Gallup is already at the center of a developing energy industry. Wind, coal, oil, and solar all play a part, but with New Mexico sponsoring tax credits for renewable energy, solar...

Thinking about taking a trip this summer? With the busy summer travel season upon us, tourist can travel New Mexico’s historic and scenic byways and see some of the most iconic architecture in the country. Earlier this summer the New Mexico Economic Development Department (NMEDD) and the New Mexico Tourism Department announced the launch of the New Mexico True Architecture Trails. The trails connect visitors with centuries of New Mexico architectural history from several eras, including: Adobe, Victorian, Classical and Modern styles.
"This partnership between New Mexico MainStreet and the New Mexico Tourism Department provides a great opportunity for connecting New...

The Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation gathered with representatives of businesses, the arts, volunteer groups, nonprofit organizations, tourism, energy, as well as city, county, and tribal officials at El Morro Theatre for an Economic Roundtable to discuss the work being done to boost economic and community growth through strategic focus on three key areas of the local economy: downtown, tourism, and energy.
During the roundtable, the group discussed how investments in downtown, tourism and business retention and expansion efforts present significant opportunities to grow the economy of Gallup-McKinley County while helping move the county toward a diversified and innovative economy.
“The Economic...

The film industry in the state is coming off a record year.
This is part of the reason Film Business Alliance of New Mexico has been created — to spread awareness of the economic and cultural impacts the film industry has had in New Mexico.
Film and television production and post-production have had a multi-billion dollar impact in the state, leading to creation of over 350 vendor and service businesses and more than 17,000 jobs for New Mexico residents.
Click here for the complete article.

Today, the New Mexico Economic Development Department (NMEDD) announced that 18 communities have been selected to receive Local Economic Assistance & Development Support (LEADS) grants. The $170,000 in grants will help communities create jobs, develop their tax base and encourage economic development. Since the program began in 2015, $346,200 has been distributed to rural communities to help supplement their economic development efforts.
"Identifying and funding rural projects that have the most economic potential in a community to create jobs and encourage private-sector investments is something Governor Martinez and I are proud to support," said Economic Development Secretary Jon Barela. "The LEADS...

The 95-suite SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Gallup, New Mexico opens this Tuesday, August 2, 2016. Located at 1105 W. Lincoln Avenue, the SpringHill Suites Gallup will operate as a Marriott franchise, developed by PEG Development, owned by Gallup SHS Investors, LLC and managed by In-Group Hospitality of Provo, Utah.
Leading the Gallup team will be General Manager Chad Burchfield, a Cornell alumnus from Riverside, CA. Mr. Burchfield spent his last year assisting in building a brand new award winning team in Arizona’s Tempe/ ASU/ Phoenix market. “I am extremely excited to be a part of this project. Gallup is a...

With a fresh new website, Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation is a comprehensive location for new and expanding businesses to find information on real estate, demographics, and business resources.
While Greater Gallup EDC has a focus on new and expanding businesses, they have partners throughout the region that help both businesses and the community. The City of Gallup, for example, has information on living, playing, and working in Gallup. Likewise, the Gallup Chamber of Commerce has similar goals to both the City of Gallup and Greater Gallup EDC, providing information to attract new community members and businesses. Together, the three organizations...

Gallup New Mexico is located in a logistically excellent location that includes: a central location between 7 major cities (including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Albuquerque), an extensive railway system, and a developed highway infrastructure. So, what about airways?
Gallup has a local Municipal Airport. A general aviation airport, its services include Fixed Base Operator Gallup Flying Service, Federal Express, Gallup Med Flight, Budget Car Rental, and the Civil Air Patrol. Of course, some businesses just require a larger airport. Located 135 miles away, Albuquerque International Sunport is the largest airport in New Mexico. Served by six major carriers, Albuquerque International...

FARMINGTON — Diné College is introducing three new bachelor degree programs this fall as part of a plan to expand the number of undergraduate degrees offered.
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools approved Diné College's proposal to offer three new bachelor's degree programs on July 1, according to a college press release. The three new degree programs are a Bachelor of Science in biology, a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a Bachelor of Science in secondary education with an emphasis on math and science.
They join the other two bachelor's degrees the college...

As part of its 15th annual Comcast Cares Day, more than 3,500 Comcast NBCUniversal employees and their families, friends and community partners volunteered at service projects across New Mexico.
Comcast Cares Day, which takes places every year in April during National Volunteer Month, is Comcast and NBCUniversal’s signature day of service and the nation's largest single-day corporate volunteer effort, according to the company.
Click here for the complete article.

As a legislator for the 9th District — the poorest county in one of America’s poorest states — Patty Lundstrom spends a lot of time educating fellow lawmakers about how their actions affect economic development at the community level. She understands these impacts firsthand, because Lundstrom’s primary job is to build the economy of Gallup and McKinley County as executive director of the Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation.
Click here for the complete article.

St. Bonaventure Indian Mission and School opened the Sgt.William C. Stacey Memorial Fitness Center on April 30, 2016. Located 30 miles outside of Gallup, the center will offer professional quality fitness equipment.
The choice to tribute the community's first fitness center to Marine Sergeant Stacey was made by the Mission's staff after reading his touching 'goodbye' letter left behind for his family. Sergeant Stacy's letter explained his hopes of keeping those at home safe and ensuring a greater future for our country's next generation. William Stacey was killed in Afghanistan in 2012.
Click here for the complete article.

More than 40 New Mexico community leaders and officials, from 11 communities, gathered in Silver City April 22 to learn about how Historic Theaters can spur economic growth in downtown MainStreet districts. The Institute, part of the broader New Mexico Historic Theaters Initiative, is an ongoing statewide effort by the New Mexico Economic Development Department (NMEDD) and New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) to rehabilitate historic theaters and install new digital projection and sound equipment to run current features, and improve performance of local theaters. The institute featured the latest news on the Historic Theaters Initiative; case studies and tours of Silver...

As a legislator for the 9th District — the poorest county in one of America’s poorest states — Patty Lundstrom spends a lot of time educating fellow lawmakers about how their actions affect economic development at the community level. She understands these impacts firsthand, because Lundstrom’s primary job is to build the economy of Gallup and McKinley County as executive director of the Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation.

When it comes to pizza, there's a lot of competition in the market. From national brands to homegrown chains — pizza restaurants have to make a good pie and stand out in the crowd.
Albuquerque-based Pizza 9 is doing just that. The firm was one of Business First's Fastest Growing Companies, and it was recently named one of the top 200 franchises by Franchise Business Review.
Click here for the complete article.

In March 2016, Governor Susana Martinez announced funding through the Technology Research Collaborative (TRC) to help develop and commercialize several innovative products born in New Mexico. The TRC was reestablished in 2013 through legislation enacted by Governor Martinez. The TRC works to commercialize products through partnership between the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University and the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology along with several other appointees. Researchers compete for funding to bring their products and ideas to the marketplace.
Click here for the complete article.

Property taxes are a big consideration when it comes to buying a home. The average family spends $2,127 on property taxes each year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, though that price tag goes up or down depending on what state you live in.

The National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) institutes have rightly emerged as centerpieces of the nation’s push to increase the competitiveness of America’s advanced manufacturing sector. Through the program the nation is slowly building a robust network of industry-university collaboration hubs.

Winston Churchill famously said, “To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” The trucking and freight industry has warmed up to this advice over the last few years, and 2016 shouldn’t be different.

Hotel chain Hilton announced the opening of a new 105-room hotel in Gallup, N.M., the Hilton Garden Inn Gallup.
Hilton Garden Inn Gallup is owned by TMS Gallup I, LLC, and managed by Total Management Systems. It is the brand's first property in Gallup. Hilton operates more than 600 hotels worldwide.
Click here for the complete article.

The New Mexico Economic Development Department awarded $176,260 to 15 rural economic development projects in communities around the state Tuesday.
New Mexico Economic Development Jon Barela announced the awards, which are part of the Local Economic Assistance & Development Support program that's designed to supplement the work of communities in their efforts to diversify their economy and create good-paying jobs that have a multiplier effect.
Click here for the complete article.

In fall 2015 the NM Israel Business Exchange, with assistance from the New Mexico Economic Development Department'sOffice of International Trade organized a trade mission to Israel for the International Water Technology & Environment Control Conference in Tel Aviv. This particular trade show offered New Mexico business leaders, government officials and entrepreneurs the opportunity to network with Israeli officials.
Click here for the complete article.

Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation (GGEDC) welcomed leading New Mexico policy experts and joined community business leaders, elected officials, and residents of Gallup-McKinley County as well as state and federal stakeholders to The Lodge at Santa Fe in Santa Fe, NM for an Economic Roundtable event, “The True Cost of Debt”.

The Bloomberg U.S. Innovation Index scored each of the 50 states on a 0-100 scale across six equally weighted metrics: R&D intensity; productivity; high-tech density; concentration of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) employment; science and engineering degree holders; and patent activity.

In 2015 Skorpios publicly disclosed $23 million in venture capital, including large investments from technology leaders Nokia Siemens Networks, Sweden’s Ericcson and Deutsche Telekom of Germany. The company has also spent much of the year working on patents for its technology.
Click here for the complete article.

Eight job-generating businesses have identified New Mexico as one of two state finalists for an expansion or relocation, double the number four years ago, and crunch time is coming, according to the economic development nonprofit New Mexico Partnership.

Finding the best Money Market Account rates in the new year
Money market accounts (MMAs) can be a great low-risk investment for building that emergency fund or storing extra cash. They offer better interest rates than personal savings accounts but are more liquid than certificates of deposit (CDs).
Unfortunately, even the best money market accounts haven’t been immune to sinking interest rates. According to Bankrate, the average MMA interest rate has sunk from 0.52% at the beginning of 2012 to 0.39% at the end of 2014. Not super impressive, but savings accounts and one-year CDs are faring even worse with average rates...

BNSF honored the city of Gallup, N.M. in a ceremony on Nov. 2 with its BNSF Railway Heritage Community Award. The award honors communities around BNSF’s 32,500-mile rail network that embrace their past, present and future ties to freight rail.

Kiplinger’s latest state ranking on taxes puts New Mexico at No. 8 on the list of most tax-friendly states, between Arizona at No. 7 and Nevada at No. 9. In particular, it notes relatively low gas and property taxes.

A recent paper issued by Economic Development Research Partners (EDRP), the ‘think tank component of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), explores how developers need to innovate to grow community wealth by creating an encouraging environment for private business development.

New Mexico is breaking export records and growing into a great place to do business.
Border towns like Santa Teresa have recently experienced outstanding economic growth, and every corner of the state is benefiting from the leadership and commitment of Gov. Susana Martinez to diversify our economy and make it less reliant on Washington, D.C.
Our new economic development policies are showing progress. Just recently, New Mexico made a big leap in CNBC’s “America’s Top States for Business,” jumping from 37th to 24th in the country.
The improvement is tied for the best in the nation.
Click here for the complete article.

It's one of few university programs where having a government security clearance will help you.
Launched last fall, the University of New Mexico's master of science in information sciences and assurance has graduated 24 students. The program is attracting the likes of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other government agencies that are interested in recruiting graduates for jobs in cybersecurity, data analytics and more.
According to the program's director, Steve Burd, not only has the program had 100 percent job placement, but enrollment is set to double this fall.
Click here for the complete article.

Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced 13 grants totaling more than $3.3 million to fund the TRIO Student Support Services program, which helps provide additional support for low-income and first-generation college students, as well as students with disabilities. College campuses across New Mexico will receive funding to provide services designed to help students stay in school and graduate, such as tutoring, personal counseling, mentoring, and financial guidance.
Click here for the complete article.

A national organization recently awarded the University of New Mexico's School of Architecture and Planning a $225,000 grant to be used for development and promotion of a unique initiative at Zuni Pueblo.

Gallup, NM – Roger Montano worked as a corrosion technician for more than 7 years with El Paso Natural Gas / Kinder Morgan, and while he liked his job, he wanted his own business.
“I always knew I wanted to have my own energy specialty service oriented business,” Roger said. “I just didn’t have a clue as to how I was going to secure start-up capital.”
Roger found help at the Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation in Gallup and funding through Pinnacle Bank and the New Mexico Finance Authority to make his vision of owning an energy specialty service oriented company reality.

Santa Fe, NM - Today, New Mexico Economic Development Department (NMEDD) Cabinet Secretary Jon Barela announces 15 rural economic development projects were selected to receive Local Economic Assistance & Development Support (LEADS). The newly created LEADS program will leverage $176,260 to supplement the work of local communities in their efforts to diversify their economy and create good-paying jobs that have a multiplier effect.

Industrial revenue bonds are a form of public-private partnership – a tool that governments can use to stimulate economic development, allowing them to offer tax subsidies for new or expanding businesses that create jobs and improve communities.

Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation (GGEDC) is set to conduct a comprehensive training course targeted for local elected officials and community stakeholders on basic economic development concepts and issues affecting the Gallup-McKinley County area. Nationally recognized certified economic developers (CEcD) are to deliver two and a half days of training at the newly renovated El Morro Theater in downtown Gallup, NM.

The Kansas City Fed's monthly economic databooks provide summaries of regional and national economic indicators for the Tenth Federal Reserve District states including New Mexico.
The databooks provide current economic indicators to help monitor trends and allow comparison of past information. These indicators include: Gross Domestic Product (GDP); inflation; employment; employment by industry; county and state unemployment; personal income; home prices; housing indicators; manufacturing; oil, gas and coal production; agriculture; and exports.
Read Full Report Here

Over the last several years, companies have made news for shifting all or part of their manufacturing production back to the United States, a process known as reshoring. This is a positive trend that offers real advantages to many manufacturers and to the U.S. economy as a whole.

The New Mexico Economic Development Department's Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP) board approved $3,200,305 in funding at its January board meeting to eight companies that will create 716 jobs in New Mexico, averaging a wage of $18.96.
The next JTIP board meeting will be April 17 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Central New Mexico Community College Workforce Training Center located at 5600 Eagle Rock Ave. NE in Albuquerque.
Click here to view the complete release.

The Kansas City Fed's monthly economic databooks provide summaries of regional and national economic indicators for the Tenth Federal Reserve District states including New Mexico.
The databooks provide current economic indicators to help monitor trends and allow comparison of past information. These indicators include: Gross Domestic Product (GDP); inflation; employment; employment by industry; county and state unemployment; personal income; home prices; housing indicators; manufacturing; oil, gas and coal production; agriculture; and exports.
Read Full Report Here

It’s not often New Mexico can brag of being top dog on a nationwide business list, but the state is being recognized as the fastest-growing place in the country for jobs related to international exports.
A U.S. Commerce Department report to be released today says local jobs supported directly and indirectly by state exports to other countries grew 107 percent over the last five years, from about 8,000 in 2009 to 16,500 last year. That’s substantially faster than the closest runners-up: Louisiana and Hawaii, with 66 percent growth, and South Carolina and Washington state, with 38 percent each.
Click here to view...

Private-sector hiring pushed job growth in New Mexico to a rate of 1.6 percent in March, notching the state’s 31st consecutive month of year-over-year employment gains, the state Department of Workforce Solutions reported Tuesday.
The state’s unemployment rate was 6.1 percent in March, up from 6 percent in February but down from 6.8 percent in March 2014. The national unemployment rate was 5.5 percent in March.
Click here to view the complete article.

Farmington, NM – GGEDC in concert with Gallup Land Partners successfully participated in the 2015 San Juan Basin Energy Conference. Organized by the San Juan College School of Energy, Four Corners Innovation, Inc., and the New Mexico Center for Energy Policy, a division of New Mexico Tech, the conference was held on March 24-25, 2015 at San Juan College’s Henderson Fine Arts Center.

FARMINGTON — A two-day conference this week will examine the impact of low oil and gas prices on the energy industry.
Sponsored by the San Juan College School of Energy, Four Corners Innovations Inc. and the New Mexico Center for Energy Policy, a division of New Mexico Tech, the San Juan Basin Energy Conference takes place Tuesday and Wednesday at San Juan College's Henderson Fine Arts Center.

The job picture in New Mexico brightened in January, with nine of 14 employment sectors contributing to a year-over-year gain of 10,200 jobs around the state, according to a report issued Tuesday by the Department of Workforce Solutions.

Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation
Contact: Patty Lundstrom
(505) 722 – 2980
patty@gallupedc.com
www.GallupEDC.com
For Immediate Release
February 16, 2015
GGEDC receives national recognition from Site Selectors Guild Organization to accept ‘Excellence in Economic Development Award’ Gallup, NM – Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation announced today it has been selected by the Site Selectors Guild to receive their Excellence in Economic Development Award. The award ceremony will be held at the Site Selectors Guild Annual Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Wednesday, February 25, 2015.
GGEDC Executive Director Patty Lundstrom, proudly exclaimed, “It is an honor that our economic development efforts has been recognized with the Excellence...

AZTEC, NM — Local officials have endorsed a bill sponsored by the Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments that is designed to spur economic development in mostly rural areas of the state.
The bill, currently in draft form, offers businesses in the manufacturing, oil and gas, and wholesale sectors tax credit incentives to open up shop — up to a 30 percent tax credit in rural areas, 20 percent in urban areas for infrastructure investments and 50 percent for new construction.

JOC.com | Increasing container dwell times are taking a toll at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, further exacerbating congestion at the busiest U.S. port complex.
Truck turn times in October were the worst on record in Los Angeles-Long Beach, even though container volume growth was modest. Val Noronha, president of Digital Geographic Research, tracks turn times in the harbor using GPS technology and finds this development to be troubling.

The Kansas City Fed's monthly economic databooks provide summaries of regional and national economic indicators for the Tenth Federal Reserve District states including New Mexico.
The databooks provide current economic indicators to help monitor trends and allow comparison of past information. These indicators include: Gross Domestic Product (GDP); inflation; employment; employment by industry; county and state unemployment; personal income; home prices; housing indicators; manufacturing; oil, gas and coal production; agriculture; and exports.
Download Report Here

The Kansas City Fed's monthly economic databooks provide summaries of regional and national economic indicators for the Tenth Federal Reserve District states including New Mexico.
The databooks provide current economic indicators to help monitor trends and allow comparison of past information. These indicators include: Gross Domestic Product (GDP); inflation; employment; employment by industry; county and state unemployment; personal income; home prices; housing indicators; manufacturing; oil, gas and coal production; agriculture; and exports.
Download Report Here

U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced more than $780,000 in federal funding for two projects to spur economic development in New Mexico. These funds, made available by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), will increase access to microloans for small businesses and support the renovation the iconic Santo Domingo Trading Post.
The EDA has awarded $270,000 to support the implementation of ACCION New Mexico’s Presto Loan program to promote and develop entrepreneurship throughout New Mexico. The program, which provides loans of up to $8,000, targets low-to-moderate income, minority, women, and veteran entrepreneurs. During its initial pilot program, ACCION provided consumers with 285...

The Commerce Department this morning said the GDP increased at an annual rate of 4.6 percent in the second quarter of the year.
That followed a 2.1 percent drop in the first quarter, and marked the fastest rate increase since 2011.
The department, in a news release, said the increase in the second quarter primarily reflected positive contributions from personal consumption expenditure), exports, private inventory investment, nonresidential fixed investment, state and local government spending, and residential fixed investment.

The Kansas City Fed's monthly economic databooks provide summaries of regional and national economic indicators for the Tenth Federal Reserve District states including New Mexico.
The databooks provide current economic indicators to help monitor trends and allow comparison of past information. These indicators include: Gross Domestic Product (GDP); inflation; employment; employment by industry; county and state unemployment; personal income; home prices; housing indicators; manufacturing; oil, gas and coal production; agriculture; and exports.
Download Report Here

Gallup, NM – Gallup Land Partners, LLC announced today Carbon Coal Road which will serve as the primary transportation corridor for the Gallup Energy Logistics Park was approved for public road status from the McKinley County Board of Commissioners.
Carbon Coal Road, north of the city of Gallup will connect the Gallup Energy Logistics Park to US Hwy 491, allowing traffic to bypass the city of Gallup. “Carbon Coal Road will support the Gallup Energy Logistics Park and drive economic growth in McKinley County,” said Gallup Land Partners Business Manager Aaron Kowalski. “We are grateful for the support of the Commission.”
The...

Gallup, NM - Gallup Land Partners, LLC announced plans today to build the first integrated Energy Logistics Park in the state of New Mexico, to be located 5 miles northwest of Gallup, NM, with an immediate first phase to include development of a crude oil transload facility.
The Gallup Energy Logistics Park is a 2000-acre master-planned business park anchored by a state-of-the-art crude oil transload facility; the first and only such facility in New Mexico to anchor an Energy Logistics Park on the BNSF Railway TransCon line.
The Gallup Energy Logistics Park will be accessible through US Hwy 491, which the state...

Gary Gerew | Albuquerque Business First - The National Main Street Center has reaccredited and the New Mexico Economic Development Department and licensed it to operate the New Mexico MainStreet Program for another two years.
The program centers on revitalizing historic town centers around the state.
According to the Economic Development Department, over the past 28 years, the program has helped produce more than 11,400 new jobs, assisted 3,200 business start-ups, and produced a $44.50 private sector reinvestment ratio for every dollar invested by the state.
“New Mexico’s MainStreet program continues to be regarded as one of the best-run in the nation,” said...

Mark Szakonyi | JOC.com - The value of total trade and exports moving through U.S. foreign-trade zones last year hit record highs, reflecting exporter and retailers’ increased of the hubs.
The value of exports through the nation’s 177 FTZs jumped 13.7 percent year-over-year to $79.5 billion last year, while total trade through the zones rose 14.1 percent to $835.8 billion. That roughly 65 percent of the merchandise received in the FTZs was sourced from the U.S. suggests manufacturers are increasingly using the zones to produce goods for domestic and foreign markets. The share of domestically sourced merchandise brought into foreign-trade zones...

Williams B. Cassidy | JOC.com - Schneider National is looking for more than just a few good drivers. The largest privately owned U.S. truckload carrier wants to hire 100 drivers in the region around Birmingham, Alabama, to bolster its fast-growing dedicated trucking business and other operations in the South.
Like many of its truckload competitors, the $3.6 billion trucking operator is willing to pay more to secure the truck drivers needed to deliver trucking capacity to its shipper customers. Back in May, the company’s tank truck division boosted driver pay by $4,000 a year on average.
Annual pay for the dedicated driving...

Dan Mayfield | Albuquerque Business Journal - The New Mexico Jobs Council was in full swing on Wednesday morning, with 75 people hashing out employment numbers and figures for four counties.
The Jobs Council is a bipartisan group of legislators, appointed officials, economic developers and industry leaders that is meeting to find ways to bring more jobs, and specifically more economic-base jobs, to New Mexico.
The council met at the Hotel Andaluz Downtown and hashed out several numbers that are critical to a set of recommendations that the council will make to the Legislature. The group was looking at workforce projections over...

Dennis Domrzalski | Albuquerquer Business Journal - In New Mexico, $100 goes farther than in many other states, according to a new study by the Washington D.C.-based Tax Foundation.
The real value of $100 in New Mexico is $105.49, meaning that’s what $100 would buy in the state as opposed to states where prices for goods and services are higher, according to the study.
The lowest-priced state is Mississippi, where $100 will buy $115.74 worth of goods and services; Hawaii is the highest-priced state, where $100 will buy $85.32 worth of things.
Read Full Article Here

The Kansas City Fed's monthly economic databooks provide summaries of regional and national economic indicators for the Tenth Federal Reserve District states including New Mexico.
The databooks provide current economic indicators to help monitor trends and allow comparison of past information. These indicators include: Gross Domestic Product (GDP); inflation; employment; employment by industry; county and state unemployment; personal income; home prices; housing indicators; manufacturing; oil, gas and coal production; agriculture; and exports.
Download Report Here

JOC.Com | Inland 40-foot container capacity was at a premium in the United States in the first half of 2014, although space is becoming more available as the second half advances.
In the first 26 weeks of 2014, demand outweighed availability at three of five inland points covered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s weekly Ocean Shipping Container Availability Report, or OSCAR — Chicago, Kansas City and Minneapolis. Statistics from OSCAR showed that on average, the weekly available containers fell short by an average of 454 containers at the Port of Chicago. OSCAR data for the ports of Kansas City and...

The Kansas City Fed's monthly economic databooks provide summaries of regional and national economic indicators for the Tenth Federal Reserve District states including New Mexico.
The databooks provide current economic indicators to help monitor trends and allow comparison of past information. These indicators include: Gross Domestic Product (GDP); inflation; employment; employment by industry; county and state unemployment; personal income; home prices; housing indicators; manufacturing; oil, gas and coal production; agriculture; and exports.
Read Full Article Here

ALBUQUERQUE — Federal statistics are showing what many people in New Mexico already know: The state is in the midst of an oil boom.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration released figures Tuesday that show New Mexico, North Dakota and Wyoming are right behind the Gulf of Mexico in crude oil production on federal and tribal land.
And despite steady decreases since 2003, New Mexico remained among the top producers of natural gas.
The State Land Office says the nearly $817 million in revenues earned during the 2014 fiscal year marks a record for New Mexico. The previous record of $653 million was set...

Dan Mayfield | Albuquerque Business First - Ray Powell the New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands, is still pushing Tesla Motors to put its proposed Gigafactory on state land, where a variety of tax breaks and incentives could amount to a huge incentive for the company to locate here.
Tesla is looking at building its new Gigafactory in five states, one of which is New Mexico. Though the states are in a bake-off to see which will win the project, which could require as many as 1,000 acres of land, Powell says he has a three-point plan that would make Tesla’s...

The Kansas City Fed's monthly economic databooks provide summaries of regional and national economic indicators for the Tenth Federal Reserve District states including New Mexico.
The databooks provide current economic indicators to help monitor trends and allow comparison of past information. These indicators include: Gross Domestic Product (GDP); inflation; employment; employment by industry; county and state unemployment; personal income; home prices; housing indicators; manufacturing; oil, gas and coal production; agriculture; and exports.
Read Full Article Here

The volume of intermodal units traveling on U.S. railroads last week was the highest ever seen, the Association of American Railroads reports.
U.S. carload and intermodal volume both grew for the week ending in June 14. A total of 270,243 intermodal units moved on U.S. railroads, up 0.2 percent from the previous week and 6.3 percent higher than the same week in 2013. Carload volume also grew, totaling 295,132 units, 0.8 percent higher week-to-week and 2.2 percent higher year-over-year.
“Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 24 weeks of 2014 was 12.96 million carloads and intermodal units, up 4.4 percent from last...

Gary Gerew | Albuquerque Business Journal - Two researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have been awarded the second annual “Test of Time” award for a technical paper that has had “wide and lasting impact” in supercomputing.
Bruce Hendrickson and Rob Leland were cited by the awards committee of the 2014 Supercomputing Conference and have been invited to speak at the event in New Orleans this November.
Hendrickson and Leland’s 1995 paper, “A Multilevel Algorithm for Partitioning Graphs,” has been cited approximately 1,000 times, according to Google Scholar, the laboratories said in a news release.
The paper was credited for laying the groundwork for...

Dennis Domrzaiski | Albuquerque Business First - New Mexico has one of the lowest gasoline taxes in the nation, according to the Washington, D.C.,-based Tax Foundation.
The state’s 18.88-cent per-gallon gas tax put it in 43rd place among the states.
California has the highest gas tax at 52.89 cents while Alaska has the lowest at 12.4 cents.
In addition to state gas tax, the federal gasoline gas tax is 18.4 cents a gallon.
Here’s how New Mexico and surrounding states compare when it comes to gasoline taxes:
Arizona: 18.88 cents; 43
Colorado: 22 cents; 42
Oklahoma: 17 cents; 47
New Mexico: 18.88 cents; 43
Nevada: 33.15 cents; 13
Texas: 20...

Mark Szakonyi | JOC.com - U.S. intermodal service doesn’t appear to have improved significantly since severe winter weather and rising traffic crippled most rail networks and disrupted shipper supply chains in the first four months of the year. Indeed, just as some railroads were making incremental improvements to service and digging out from the lingering winter cargo backlog, they got hit with a surge of volume as importers accelerated shipments ahead of the June 30 expiration of the West Coast longshore labor contract, said Larry Gross, a senior consultant at research firm FTR Associates.
But if volume growth is any indication,...

The Kansas City Fed's monthly economic databooks provide summaries of regional and national economic indicators for the Tenth Federal Reserve District states including New Mexico.
The databooks provide current economic indicators to help monitor trends and allow comparison of past information. These indicators include: Gross Domestic Product (GDP); inflation; employment; employment by industry; county and state unemployment; personal income; home prices; housing indicators; manufacturing; oil, gas and coal production; agriculture; and exports.
Read Full Article Here

Gary Gerew | Albuquerque Business First - The New Mexico Spaceport Authority has received gold status from the U.S Green Building Council for its energy-efficient design and construction efforts.
The certification was given to the authority for its 110,000 square-foot “Gateway to Space” terminal hangar building at Spaceport America.
The building was designed by the team of Foster + Partners and URS, and was planned from the start to meet LEED Gold certification, according to the authority.
Gold certification is the second highest of the LEED’s four levels of certification.
“Spaceport America is a showcase for what other commercial spaceports will be like in...

Gary Gerew | Albuquerque Business First - The state Economic Development Department said the New Mexico MainStreet program was responsible for starting 82 new businesses and creating 422 jobs in 2013.
“New Mexico MainStreet continues to pay dividends for New Mexico’s economy by improving quality of life and bringing dollars back to our historic communities,” said Economic Development Department Cabinet Secretary Jon Barela in a statement. “The numbers continue to show that local economies are seeing a tremendous return with money being reinvested, buildings rehabilitated and jobs created.”
According to the state, business owners within the 27 MainStreet districts invested almost $20...

The Kansas City Fed's monthly economic databooks provide summaries of regional and national economic indicators for the Tenth Federal Reserve District states including New Mexico.
The databooks provide current economic indicators to help monitor trends and allow comparison of past information. These indicators include: Gross Domestic Product (GDP); inflation; employment; employment by industry; county and state unemployment; personal income; home prices; housing indicators; manufacturing; oil, gas and coal production; agriculture; and exports.
Download Report Here

U.S. intermodal should see another year of robust demand, provided that rail service recovers following service disruptions in the first quarter, according to an executive from Hub Group.
“There are some key corridors where service is not as good as it has been historically, and a lot of that is due to a lack of train capacity,” said Mark Yeager, vice chairman, president and chief operations officer of Hub Group, in the company’s first-quarter earnings call.
Yeager said that as long as the major U.S. railroads recover in the second quarter and offer “the kind of service that they’ve offered for the...

Mike Bush | Albuquerque Journal - When it comes to graduates finding jobs, the University of New Mexico School of Law ranks high, placing between Yale and Georgetown on the national list of more than 200 accredited law schools, according to the nation’s largest organization of attorneys.
In mid-February, the American Bar Association looked at the employment status of the spring 2013 graduating classes – almost 47,000 new lawyers. Nationwide, the percentage of graduates who had found full-time, long-term employment practicing law was 57 percent. At UNM, it was 73.7 percent.
The law schools at the top of the list were Columbia...

Bill Mongelluzzo | JOC.com - U.S. rail traffic is returning to normal after one of the coldest winters in recent memory, Bradley Thrasher, vice president and general manager of industrial products at the Union Pacific Railroad, told the Los Angeles Transportation Club April 15.
Home building, conversion of highway freight to rail, energy extraction and international trade will be the main drivers of freight volume for the remainder of the year. Manufacturing should also contribute to the growth.
Economists at the beginning of the year were confidently predicting a return to more normal growth as the recovery entered its fifth year. However,...

GGEDC presents at 2014 NM Economic Development Summit
HOBBS, NM – Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Patty Lundstrom served as presenter and panel member for The Logistics, Distribution, and Transportation Sector work session during the 2014 NM Economic Development Summit in Hobbs, NM.
“Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation was sought to present on our efforts maximizing job creation opportunities associated with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroad in Gallup-McKinley County including the proposed Gallup Industrial Park” stated Patty Lundstrom. “For a relatively new economic development organization, to be invited as a presenter for the NM Economic Development Summit is...

By Bernie Dotson | Gallup Independent
GALLUP — Patricia Lundstrom, executive director at the Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation, lauded the announcement Tuesday of funding for the four-laning of U.S. Highway 491 during a visit by Gov. Susana Martinez.
“This culminates a successful nine-month effort undertaken by Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation in collaboration with the city of Gallup for the express purpose of stimulating economic growth and job creation in Gallup and McKinley County,” Lundstrom said. “With this announcement, the state of New Mexico has solidified U.S. Highway 491 as the major north-south corridor in northwest New Mexico, and Gallup...

$78M to complete US Hwy 491 culminates successful 9-month effort
by GGEDC and City of Gallup
Gallup – Today’s announcement of $78M to complete the US Hwy 491 corridor by NM Governor Susana Martinez and the State Transportation Commission culminates a successful nine-month effort undertaken by Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation in collaboration with the City of Gallup to seeks it completion for the express purpose of stimulating economic growth and job creation in Gallup-McKinley County.
“With today’s announcement, the state of New Mexico has solidified US Hwy 491 as the major north-south corridor in northwest New Mexico and Gallup will be...

Winthrop Quigley | Albuquerque Journal -
Legislation enacted last year to make New Mexico’s business tax climate more competitive did lower the effective tax rate on some businesses, but when combined with credits makes state taxes the lowest in the region for manufacturers, according to a New Mexico Tax Research Institute study.
Changes in corporate income tax rates and new rules aimed at eliminating tax on income earned through sales of goods out of state lowered the effective tax rate on manufacturers 46.9 percent, from a 17.9 percent tax rate in 2011 to a 9.5 percent tax rate.
However, that lower rate was...

Ernst & Young Ranks NM #1 in the West for Manufacturers
The New Mexico Economic Development Department is pleased to report that a newly released study completed by Ernst & Young ranks New Mexico as the best state in the West for manufacturing.
According to the study, New Mexico now has the lowest effective tax rate for manufacturers in the West. That means once tax breaks are factored in, we are the most competitive in the nine-state Western region.
The New Mexico Jobs Package that passed in the 2013 Legislature was factored into this report which helped move New Mexico's ranking from 51st in the...

Dan Mayfield | Albuquerque Business First -
The 2014 New Mexico legislative session wrapped up at noon Thursday with a new $6.2 billion budget, and an increase in pay for teachers and all public employees.
During the 30-day session, legislators are constitutionally bound to pass a state budget.
“It’s no secret that New Mexico’s economy is lagging behind neighboring states. We saw the problem, and last year we created the Jobs Council. This session we walked the walk and passed legislation that will begin to create jobs for New Mexico families,” said Speaker Ken Martinez, D-Bernalillo.
“I am proud of the Jobs Council’s legislation...

Deane Foote | Expansion Solutions Magazine -
It was a cold snowy morning in early 2005 in Minot, ND; members of the Minot Chamber of Commerce and the City of Minot had gathered to hear the results of an intermodal development feasibility study that I was a part of while working for Carter-Burgess. Our advice to them had been to proceed with the development of the project, which would initially load and move regional grain products and other products such as oil - as the market would warrant - to the West Coast ports of Seattle and Vancouver. They were nervous,...

The New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro is paving a path to market for new technologies, and it’s placing students in the driver’s seat.
The university’s newly created Center for Leadership in Technology Commercialization, launching this month, will offer a slate of new courses and hands-on experience for undergraduate and graduate students to acquire knowledge and skills to guide new technologies to market.
Under the program, teams of students will conduct market studies and other tasks to help researchers commercialize innovation from the university and from New Mexico’s national laboratories.
Administrators expect that to lead to new startup companies, generating...

The U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination of Janet Yellen as Federal Reserve Chair Monday.
Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, New Mexico Democrats, both voted in support.
“Dr. Yellen has demonstrated good judgment and a keen understanding of conditions affecting the economy during her previous service at the Federal Reserve,” Heinrich said. “She has also shown an understanding that the Fed’s decisions can and do affect families struggling to get by in an economy where wages are too low and unemployment is too high. I am confident these traits will serve the country well and that her leadership will help drive policy...

Article By: krqe.com
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — There are three new arts and culture districts in New Mexico.
Gallup, Mora and Artesia were selected by the New Mexico Arts Commission after a competitive application and review process. They mark the first arts and culture district programs authorized by the commission since 2009.
Existing districts include Las Vegas, Silver City, Albuquerque, Los Alamos, Raton and Taos.
Economic Development Secretary Jon Barela says Gov. Susana Martinez and state legislators provided new funding to expand the program.
Among the benefits for districts is a doubling of state historic tax credits to renovate eligible properties and branding in...

SANTA FE — New Mexico had a net gain of 6,900 jobs in a year, state Economic Development Secretary Jon Barela said Wednesday.
Appearing before the Legislative Finance Committee, Barela said 10,000 private-sector jobs were created between August 2012 and August of this year. But during that span, the state lost 3,100 government jobs, mostly at the federal level, he said.
Barela said he was cautiously optimistic about the economy because of those statistics.
The downside of losing so many government jobs is that New Mexico is the state most heavily dependent on federal spending, he said.
Read Full Article Here

New Mexico collected $479 million in oil and gas royalties in the 2013 fiscal year, the state’s largest take in five years, the U.S. Department of Interior announced Tuesday.
The news comes on the heels of Sen. Tom Udall’s fight to prevent the department from subjecting New Mexico’s share of oil and gas revenues to the federal budget sequester.
The Obama administration had threatened to take $26 million in federal oil and gas revenues from New Mexico but backed off after the New Mexico Democrat and Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyoming, moved to block the money grab through legislation.
Nationally, the Interior Department disbursed...

Damon Scott | Albuquerque Business First
Retailer Big 5 Sporting Goods is set to open its first location in Gallup in the American Heritage Plaza development this month.
The plaza, located at North Highway 491, is anchored by a Safeway grocery store and discount retailer Big Lots. Big 5 will occupy a 10,000-square-foot space.
Dan K. Frady of Re/Max Combined Investments brokered the lease on behalf of the plaza, which he said was now about 95 percent full. Frady said he’s been working to locate a Big 5 in Gallup for two years.
Read Full Article Here

Dennis Domrzalski | Albuquerque Business First
Four New Mexico economic development experts have been honored for their work in the field by the International Economic Development Council at the organization’s annual conference in Philadelphia.
Mark Lautman, owner of Lautman Economic Architecture, was awarded Fellow Member status with “unusual stature,” the IEDC said in a news release.
“The term ‘unusual stature’ characterizes a member’s substantial contributions to the profession through service to IEDC and/or academic ventures directly related to the practice of economic development,” said IEDC Chair Paul Krutko. “Mr. Lautman serves as a premier example of one who has made just such contributions...

ERIK LEE
editor@siteselection.com
President Obama's visit to Mexico City in May had an interesting and surprisingly novel focus on the two nations' very positive economic relations, now at an amazing $536 billion dollars in two-way goods and services trade for 2012.
This represents a quintupling of bilateral trade since 1993, the year the North American Free Trade Agreement was signed by President George H.W. Bush. President Obama's extensive references to this enormous economic relationship essentially confirmed what we have known for years: The U.S.-Mexico relationship is essentially a commercial relationship, rather than a security-based relationship. And that is - and will continue to...

Article By Albuquerque Business First | Gary Gerew
Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-NM, will be in Rio Arriba and Colfax Counties this week for a tour focusing on ways to improve New Mexico’s economy.
On Thursday, Heinrich will also deliver the keynote address for the Workforce Development, Economic Development, and Education Summit at Northern New Mexico College in Española. The summit is organized to have representatives from nearby universities to discuss the role that northern New Mexico secondary education institutions play in workforce and economic development in the region.
On Friday, Heinrich will tour the Track Fire Recovery Site in Raton and meet with...

Pamela M. Prah / Stateline.org | Albuquerque Journal
Israel has become a popular destination for U.S. governors and other officials hoping to spur their states’ economies by tapping into the technology of a country some call “Start-Up Nation.”
States with robust technology sectors such as California, New York and Massachusetts have been particularly active in seeking out business ties with Israel, but so have less likely states such as New Mexico and Delaware.
New York’s trade with Israel totaled more than $4.5 billion last year, the most of any state. California exports ranked second with more than $2.7 billion, U.S. Commerce Department figures...

By Katy Barnitz | NM Magazine
Cleaved by historic Route 66 in the sprawling northwestern part of the state, this former coal-mining town once served as a bustling rail-construction outpost. The chug and whistle of trains still resound.
1. Paint the Town
Grab a guide map from the Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce, lead yourself on a tour of Gallup’s colorful downtown murals, and learn about the city’s culture and history through the eyes of its talented artists. Many of the murals are within easy walking distance of the Chamber, such as artist Richard K. Yazzie’s memorial piece The Long Walk, at the...

Albuquerque Journal | Kevin Robinson - Avila
New Mexico mining is on the upswing, after plummeting in value during the recession.
Mining statewide reached $2.21 billion in 2011, the latest year that state Mining and Minerals Division statistics are available.
That’s still below the industry’s record of $2.36 billion in value in 2008, before the economy collapsed. But it’s a substantial rebound from 2009 and 2010, when mining revenue fell to just $1.76 billion and $1.78 billion, respectively.
Mining employment is also up significantly, with 6,661 jobs in 2011. That’s below the pre-recession count of 7,200 employees in 2008, but it’s up from...

Albuquerque Business First | Dan Mayfield
Beginning in September, the New Mexico Economic Development Department and the New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership will offer ISO 9000 certification classes.
The new program, the New Mexico 9000, was created by the EDD to provide training over three to six months for companies that are looking to get the certification. ISO 9000 standards are accepted in 178 countries and the certification is required by the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA and the National Nuclear Security Administration, as well as Intel Corp., for contractors or suppliers.
“This program will help New Mexico companies become more competitive both...

Dennis Domrzalski | Albuquerque Business First -
Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services in Gallup said Wednesday it has accepted a proposal from the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center and a Texas firm to operate its 69-bed hospital as a joint venture.
The next step in the process is to enter a letter of intent with UNM HSC and LHP Hospital Group Inc. of Plano, Texas, said Rehoboth spokeswoman Ina Burmeister.
LHP is a five-year-old privately held company that specializes in forming joint ventures with not-for-profit hospitals. It has six joint ventures with hospitals in Florida, Texas, New Jersey and Idaho,...

Dan Mayfield | Albuquerque Business First -
On Monday, construction started on the state’s largest solar plant on state trust land.
New Mexico Land Commissioner Ray Powell announced that First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) broke ground at the Macho Springs solar project on 500 acres near Deming. The project could generate as much as $40 million for state trust land over the life of the lease. The plant should be completed by May 2014.
“This project will provide clean, efficient solar power for use by New Mexicans,” Powell said. “Other benefits of the project to the local and regional economy include millions of dollars in...

Dan Mayfield - Albuquerque Biz Journal | New Mexico is one of the best places for clean technology development, according to a new report.
New Mexico was ranked as the seventh-best state in the nation for clean tech by Clean Edge, a research and marketing firm in San Francisco.
The company ranked states based on technology (such as solar development), policy (New Mexico requires utilities to provide renewable energy), smart meters, emissions, clean-tech patents and more.
New Mexico was lauded for the work the national laboratories in the state are doing on renewable energy, such as Sandia National Laboratories’ solar work and Los...

Article By The Raton Range | Todd Wildermuth, Editor | Tue, May 14, 2013
Most municipalities in Colfax County are eligible to apply for a new economic development assistance program passed by the Legislature this year and signed by the governor in late March.
The Frontier Communities Initiative is being administered by the New Mexico MainStreet program, although the program is for small communities that are not MainStreet members. Any incorporated community with a population of less than 7,500 can apply as long as it does not currently have New Mexico MainStreet program status or status as a New Mexico Arts and...

America's top endurance mountain bikers will head to the Zuni Mountains of New Mexico this summer to vie for Stars-and-Stripes jerseys at the 2013 USA Cycling 24-Hour Mountain Bike National Championships. Held in conjunction with 24 Hours in the Enchanted Forest, riders will be tested on a 16-mile course that is nearly all singletrack, starts at 7,850 feet above sea level, and reaches as high as 8,350 feet of elevation — with 1,344 feet of climbing.

Dan P. Lee - New York Magazine |
Welcome to the Real Space Age! This is not a rendering. It is a launching pad in the New Mexico desert for rocket planes that will send you into space for $200,000. It opens later this year.

Jay Mason - Gallup Journey |
I did not grow up in Gallup, although I am a native New Mexican. Many times I have been asked by others, “How did you end up in Gallup?” I always say Divine Providence, and, as I grow older, I think it is true.

LAS CRUCES - Governor Susana Martinez today signed HB 120, Locomotive Fuel Gross Receipts Tax exemption legislation, designed to encourage further growth of the railroad industry, as well as continued growth of exports and manufacturing in New Mexico.
HB 120 will allow railroad operators to be eligible to receive GRT-free fuel after making a capital investment of at least $50 million on eligible infrastructure improvements, including railroad locomotive refueling facilities, railroad track and signals, and supporting railroad networks located in New Mexico after July 1, 2012.
“Encouraging businesses to invest in our state and expand our existing infrastructure for commerce is vital...

For CEOs, employee optimism can be a competitive advantage. Employees who believe in a brighter future and are willing to work toward that vision will often find solutions to vexing business problems.
Adora Svitak’s TED Talk makes a compelling case that thinking like a child with a focus on possibilities rather than limitations is key to success. Listen to this 12-year old make the case that you can find solutions to challenging problems if you eliminate your fear of restrictions. After listening to Adora, my confidence that the American Dream can be fully achieved by even more people has increased dramatically. The...

With Digital Postal Mail, each Gallup household can receive a free secure online inbox for all of their bills and statements. View your mail, pay your bills and organize your life online from anywhere in one place.

(SANTA FE, New Mexico) – The first of its kind agreement was signed between a state agency, a city, and a county today, between the New Mexico State Land Office, the City of Gallup, and McKinley County. The agreement pledges cooperative community planning efforts and additional measures to ensure transparency, with a goal of creating more jobs for the McKinley County/Gallup area through planned, responsible growth and development.
A Joint Planning Agreement (JPA) was signed by State Land Commissioner Ray Powell, Gallup Mayor Jackie McKinney, and County Commission Chairman Genevieve Jackson (District 2) today in a ceremony at Gallup Day at...

LAS CRUCES - New Mexico merchandise exports to Mexico are at an all-time high coming in at about $618 million, 50 percent higher than 2011 exports which stood at $464 million, according to numbers released by the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration.
"We have been proactively working with one of our most natural trade partners," said Economic Development Secretary Jon Barela. "In addition to focusing on building infrastructure at our Borderplex and enacting policies like the Six Mile Overweight Cargo Zone to help exporters on this side of the border, we have also been active in organizing trade missions...

While many financial experts predict slow economic growth in 2013, the New Mexico Small Business Investment Corp. is taking action to improve the economy in New Mexico by providing capital to small businesses around the state.
Created in 2001 under the New Mexico Small Business Investment Act to stimulate job creation, the NMSBIC plans to assist more small businesses in more parts of the state, said Joseph Badal, board chairman and president of the organization.
“We want to increase the velocity of money we have to deploy,” he said. “The faster money gets into the hands of small-business owners, the faster the...

Jack Allston - JBA & Associates |
Hello, Just an update on what is happening at JBA & Associates and our work around the state. As many of you know, I am on retainer with the New Mexico Partnership as their lead generation and appointment setting consultant. Most recently, I have been very active in the state working with long-time site selection partner Deane Foote and Foote Consulting in Otero County and Gallup/McKinley County.
As I mentioned in the last newsletter, I have completed economic development consulting assignments for the Eastern New Mexico Development Alliance with an all-day site selection workshop and...

Brett Newberry - Gallup Journey | I hope that I will be allowed a little latitude regarding my business article for this month’s issue. As you are aware, the Gallup Journey is celebrating its 100th edition with the November 2012 issue. The Business Doctor wants to celebrate by saluting the entrepreneurship of Chuck, Nate, Jenny, and Heather.
The magazine was started in June 2004 with four people: Chuck Van Drunen, Jenny Van Drunen, Chuck Whitney, and Nate Haveman. The first issue of the Journey came out in August 2004. They had a business plan that was mostly guesswork. In the beginning...

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly today announced a $43 million financial assistance agreement for design and construction of a portion of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - Gov. Susana Martinez's administration plans a summit in October to gather recommendations for boosting New Mexico's economy.
The Economic Development Department is organizing the "New Century Economic Summit" in Albuquerque on Oct. 2 to hear from community and business leaders and educators.
Economic Development Secretary Jon Barela said policy recommendations may be incorporated into legislative proposals and the agency's long-term strategic plan for expanding the economy.
Barela said the summit needs to consider New Mexico's tax system, infrastructure, economic development incentives and educational programs for preparing a competitive workforce.
Read the rest of this article here.

The To’Hajiilee Navajo Chapter plans to establish a solar array farm on its trust lands, a flat stretch of prairie in central New Mexico where land preparation for the project is minimal, reported the Associated Press.

The final selections have been made for the fiscal year 2011 Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG). The Navajo Nation was approved for $4.5 million, which will fund seven infrastructure projects.

Now is a great time to invest in New Mexico. Recent changes to the state’s tax structure — which has further improved the state’s operating environment — along with a talented workforce and aggressive financial incentives make New Mexico an attractive location for long-term success.
A study by Ernst & Young and the New Mexico Tax Research Institute determined that New Mexico has reduced tax rates for manufacturing by nearly 60 percent — the greatest drop, by far, in the western states studied. New Mexico’s after-credit manufacturing rate is now at 3.3 percent — the best in the region.
Additionally, the nonpartisan...

Holding it’s second Gallup Job Fair, the New Mexico Workforce Connection, proved to be successful in outdoing its first job fair by quickly drawing in job applicants in hopes of finding a job around Gallup and the surrounding area.
The Gallup Job Fair, was held Jan. 25, at their office located at 2918 East Historic Highway 66 in Gallup. The turnout was more than they expected according to NMWC Business Consultant-Nikki Lee.
“Being this our second job fair, we were really glad for the huge turnout,” she said. “Our first job fair we’re able to do about 15-20 job placements. So we’re...

This week’s map shows the real value of $100 in each state. Prices for the same goods are often much cheaper in states like Missouri or Ohio than they are in states like New York or California. As a result, the same amount of cash can buy you comparatively more in a low-price state than in a high-price state.
Click here for the complete article.

Three scholarships in the name of Korean War Medal of Honor recipient Hiroshi “Hershey” Miyamura were given on May 13 as part of the fifth annual Senior Recognition Night at Hiroshi Miyamura High School in Gallup, N.M.
The scholarship recipients were Jennifer Begay, Alexandria Monjoy and Kelly Radcliff. Begay, a Native American, plans to study biology at the University of Utah. Monjoy was one of the top ten seniors in the class and will major in health sciences at the University of New Mexico. Radcliff plans to study dance at Arizona State University.
Click here for the complete article.

The New Mexico Economic Development Department announced $100,000 grants Monday for renovation efforts at two of the state's historic theaters.
Gov. Susana Martinez and Economic Development Secretary Jon Barelaannounced the state has awarded $100,000 each to the El Morro Theater in Gallup and the Silco Theater in Silver City as part of the Historic Theater Initiative, which aims to increase rural downtown traffic in New Mexico cities and provide entertainment options by restoring historic theaters.
Click here for the complete article.

U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) will travel to McKinley County on Friday, June 5 to speak at the grand opening of the new Gallup VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic, visit the Care 66 Hooghan Hozho Housing Project, and tour the Navajo Technical University.
Click here for the complete article.

Thirteen nursing students at the University of New Mexico-Gallup received their Nursing pins recently. Joined by families and friends, they recited the Florence Nightingale pledge and celebrated the completion of their course of study. Families were called on to present the pins to the students, and everyone enjoyed a post-ceremony celebration.
Click here for the complete article.

Dan Mayfield | Albuquerque Business First - On Thursday, Virgin Galactic and Spaceport New Mexico signed an agreement that clears the path for commercial flights of Virgin’s spaceship in New Mexico.
The new agreement, with Virgin, the FAA, aabar Investments PJS, and Spaceport America spells out how the FAA in Albuquerque and the New Mexico Spaceport Authority will coordinate to provide clear airspace for SpaceShipTwo, Virgin’s space ship.
“Our team is working hard to begin routine and affordable space launches from Spaceport America and this agreement brings us another step closer to that goal,” said Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides. “We are...

Nick Pappas | Albuquerque Journal -
New Mexico is one of four finalists for Tesla Motors Inc.’s multibillion-dollar battery “gigafactory,” a 10-million-square-foot facility that is expected to employ up to 6,500 workers.
The Palo Alto, Calif.-based electric car manufacturer said Wednesday that it has narrowed the location to Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas for the giant plant that would power its cars of the future.
And should Tesla ultimately choose New Mexico for its state-of-the-art facility, that certainly would be good news for the Albuquerque metro.
“Tesla is one of the most exciting companies on the planet, and we are thrilled that the...

Dennis Domrzalski
Reporter- Albuquerque Business First
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. wants to bring more manufacturing back to the U.S., and Gov. Susana Martinez and New Mexico economic development officials are hoping the state will benefit from the giant retailer’s push.
Martinez and five others from New Mexico, including Steve Vierck, CEO of the New Mexico Partnership, attended Wal-Mart’s U.S. Manufacturing Summit in Orlando, Fla., last week, and Vierck said it was more than promising.
“It’s really a full-court press by Wal-Mart” to bring manufacturing back to the U.S., Vierck said. “Gov. Martinez was there pushing our distribution” and other facilities.
Wal-Mart has pledged to buy $50...

Gary Gerew - Albuquerque Business First | The New Mexico Economic Development Department has announced the selection of four new “Emerging Communities” to join its MainStreet program.
The communities include the Barelas commercial district in Albuquerque; the historic business district in Gallup; the combined villages of Roy, Solano and Moscero in Harding County; and the Five Points commercial district neighborhood in Bernalillo County’s South Valley section, according to a news release.

Tommy Haws - Gallup Journey | The term economic development is used a lot. Some think that it means a new place to shop or a new restaurant coming into town. It can be elusive and ambiguous, especially during a recession period such as we are going through now.
Recently a new entity, The Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation, was created to help with the economic development process in the Gallup area. But as a result, I have been asked many questions about what new eatery is coming to town or if the group is going to be bringing in competition...

August 21, 2012
New MexicoEconomic Development Department Approves 23 Certified Communities Initiative Applications, Awards $179,000 to
Communities for Economic Development Efforts
SANTA FE - Economic Development Secretary Jon Barela and the Community, Business, and Rural Development Team have approved 23 applications for the current three-year program cycle of the Certified Community Initiative program (CCI). In total the department awarded $179,000 in CCI funding.
The assistance provided by CCI is intended to create new jobs as well as increase community pride, help improve communities and the overall state of New Mexico’s economic condition. New standards for receiving funding were also...

Federal government and Navajo Nation officials Saturday broke ground on the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, which will deliver clean running water from the San Juan River to 200,000 members of the Navajo Nation, a first for many.

A group of New Mexico seventh-graders have found could be one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in a while.
Seventh-graders from Sandia Prep discovered a Native American pot, about 18 inches high and 14 to 16 inches wide and possibly 900 years old, while on a field trip last month in Cibola County.